Sri Lanka grants permission to dock Chinese vessel amidst India’s concern

• The date of the ship’s arrival in Sri Lanka has not yet been informed 
•  NARA is scheduled to conduct a research with the ship

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The Sri Lankan government has granted permission for the Chinese research ship ‘Shi Yan 6’ to dock in Sri Lanka amidst Indian concern. Media Director of the Ministry of Defense Colonel Nalin Herath said that the permission of the Ministry of Defense has been given for the ship in question based on a request made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency NARA.   

He said the NARA is scheduled to conduct a research with the related Chinese research ship, and the date of the ship’s arrival in Sri Lanka has not yet been informed.   
It is reported that the Chinese research ship will call at the Colombo Port in October.   

Earlier, the China’s state broadcaster, CGTN, called the Shi Yan 6, is a scientific research vessel crewed by 60 that carries out oceanography, marine ecology, and marine geology tests.   
Last year, India had raised its concerns over a Sri Lankan port call in Hambantota by Chinese research vessel titled Yuan Wang 5, which specializes in spacecraft tracking and which New Delhi described as a spy vessel.