India wanted Sri Lanka to stop Colombo Port City – Gotabaya

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that India’s National Security Advisor had requested the former Sri Lankan government to stop the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City project as it would pose a threat to that country’s security.

Rajapaksa stated that when the BJP government of India came to power, it was his responsibility to meet and hold talks with his Indian counterpart - National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.   

“His primary request was to stop the (Colombo) Port City. If it was presented to our government, then it definitely must have been presented to this government.” 

“The reason he gave was that the Port City was a threat to the security of India,” the former Defence Secretary said, addressing a seminar on the topic of ‘Mega development, the country’s future and mega myths’.

Rajapaksa said that the former government assured India’s National Security Advisor that the Colombo Port City project would not pose a threat to India. 

“I don’t know how this government is facing such demands,” he added.