Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Delhi, Prasaad Kariyawasam in a wide ranging interview with India’s Rajya Sabha TV said that Sri Lanka’s relationship with China should be based on the premise that the “strategic balance in the Indian ocean is not altered”.
“We want to make sure that it doesn’t alter strategic balances in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean must be a zone of peace. Sri Lanka will work with India and other countries in the Indian Ocean to make that happen” he said.
He also said that China should not be viewed as a competitor by Asian nations.
“China is a fast growing economy and perhaps is in competition with Western economies. But we in Asia should look at China as a resource rather than a competitor. That is how we look at China- as a resource that can be exploited for the benefit of the whole of Asia. In those terms we have a very good economic relationship with China and it is so with other countries as well.”
Kariyawasam further said that both India and Sri Lanka should welcome the increase in investments by China in Sri Lanka.
“We are doing good business with China; they are involved in a lot of projects and a lot of investments and that is something India and Sri Lanka should welcome.”
Comments - 14
Comments - Strategic balance in Indian Ocean should not be altered -SL
sageeth Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM
well said via DM Android App
2127
MirakRajBanda Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:53 AM
What a fool. He shoudn't have told that to the Indian. They call themselves Diplomats without least diplomacy.
3151
007 Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:53 AM
Chinese Investment = High Interest loans
Great!
730
MMJ Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM
Ah, India is getting worried. Good... via DM Android App
911
MMJ Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM
Ah, India is getting worried now. Good...
Were getting above themselves. via DM Android App
98
Thomas Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:00 AM
You are already promoting China in the Indian Ocean area, and now trying to pacify Indian audience.
215
Bavana John Tuesday, 12 February 2013 06:39 AM
Good. No need to care about their worry. Because they dont do anything good for us.
89
tjeyar Tuesday, 12 February 2013 12:00 AM
v don't bother about Indian.What well they did in past?only developed terrorism and create communal issues between Tamils and sinhala via DM Android App
88
dharshini Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:42 AM
Bavana, before you expecting from others what you people do to others, without the indian government support can sri lanka won the war against ltte?
24
Thusith Tuesday, 12 February 2013 08:59 AM
what do you know about diplomacy. you think that we can child play with India?
46
lonawala Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:04 AM
long live srilanka china relationship, we should thrownout beggers indians from island.
102
med student Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:07 AM
dude..there s reason why he s in that position and your just another guy who comments on news blog. i m sure he knows better what he does than you do.
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perumal Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:08 AM
Exactly, a pawn talks strategy to the the chess players!
211
ajith Wednesday, 13 February 2013 04:25 AM
True John, They don't do anything good,, but it does not mean they wont do anything bad to us....so definitely we should worry....
00
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