By Sandun A. Jayasekera 

Sri Lanka faces the ignominy of losing the trust and friendly relationship of two powerful nations.  Due to the unprofessional and short sighted handling of the issue of the Chinese research ship Yuan Wang 5, former President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena raised alarm yesterday. 

  “Our country cannot afford the consequences of offending India or China, Sri Lanka’s biggest donors, creditors and true friends in need for more than a millennia,” he added. 

“I have information that the ship is sailing in the direction of Sri Lanka, ignoring Sri Lanka’s request to differ the visit. But the Chinese now have made a request to permit the ship to dock at Hambantota International Port to replenish essentials such as food water and fuel as the research vessel is manned by a crew of more than 2,000. Now this is a humanitarian issue. If Sri Lanka does not handle this extremely sensitive issue prudently, diplomatically and in a shrewd manner, there is a strong possibility of China as well as India getting offended,” Mr. Sirisena emphasised. 

Addressing a ceremony held to mark the opening of the main media centre of the SLFP at the party office last morning, Mr. Sirisena went on to say that the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) must take full responsibility for this blunder as they have without any analysis, data review or intra-national sensitivity of the sailing of the research ship have reportedly said ‘OKAY, COME’, when the request came to the MFA for permission to dock the ship at the Hambantota International Port, he charged. 

“I don’t think, Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry was aware of this request. The officials, when the request came should have consulted the top diplomats, experts of diplomatic and naval affairs and the political leadership as sailing of a ship of this type is a sensitive issue, Mr. Sirisena stressed. 

During his tenure as the 6th executive President from 2015 to 2019, a large number of war ships, educational and research ships have docked in Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee ports adhering to international, naval and diplomatic protocol after obtaining prior permission and politicians, the public and school children paid visits to these ships.