Sri Lanka Affirms Foreign Research Ships Can Use Ports

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has confirmed with Japanese media agency NHK that Sri Lanka will no longer ban foreign research ships from its ports next year.

The Foreign Minister said his government cannot have different rules for different countries and only block China. He added that his country will not take sides in a dispute between others.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry also expressed gratitude for Japan's plan to provide a ship equipped with sonar.

He said this will give Sri Lanka an opportunity to do its own survey and collect its own data, and commercially exploit it by sharing it with the rest of the world.

Sabry emphasized that Sri Lanka has untapped maritime resources, and research is essential, but it has to be done in a transparent manner.