China's infrastructure investment drive in Sri Lanka appears to have hit a temporary roadblock. Shortly after his election in January, President Maithripala Sirisena warned of scrapping the $1.34 billion Colombo port project inaugurated during last year's visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid concerns about environmental issues and fears of over-reliance on Beijing.
But the new government quickly backtracked, announcing that Sirisena would review the project in consultation with the Chinese during a planned visit to Beijing in March. As welcome as the move may have been in Beijing, Sri Lanka's volte-face may not have ended China's concerns. Apparently under pressure from India, Sri Lanka has decided to further review the Colombo port project on the grounds it could be used by China for naval activities -- particularly submarines. Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said that if "Colombo port and port city are going to be used for military operations by [the] Chinese government, then it will create serious a problem in India, and here in Sri Lanka as well." In September last year, a Chinese Song class conventional submarine docked in Colombo harbor along with a support vessel, causing anxiety in New Delhi over the growing presence of the People's Liberation Army Navy in its neighborhood.
