Talks ongoing to offer Trincomalee port to India : Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue  Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Colombo’s Minister of Regional Development, said  the decision on offering the Trincomalee port to India will be taken soon.

“Talks are at present going on between India and Sri Lanka and we hope to offer the Trincomalee port, which is one of the best deep sea ports in the world, to India,” said Mr. Fonseka was quoted as saying to  The Hindu on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue.

Trincomalee has been on the table for sometime as Sri Lanka wants to maintain a neutral stand and provide equal access to its ports to both China and India.

Sri Lanka’s experience with the Chinese, who carried out major infrastructural work at the Hambantota port in southern coast of the island nation, has put a heavy burden on the country,  Mr Fonseka told the Hindu.

“Our experience [with the Chinese] on Hambantota has not been very beneficial as we are facing a heavy debt burden due to the work done in that port. The problems and corruption in the project prompted us to review our policy on infrastructural development. We have currently given the port to a private entity so that some of the more immediate issues are resolved. This arrangement will also address India’s security concerns,” said Mr. Fonseka.