Sri Lanka has permitted the Chinese Navy training ship, Po Lang, to dock at its port for "naval exchanges and capacity building" activities, despite a 12-month moratorium introduced this year barring foreign research vessels, after security concerns raised by India and the US.
The Po Lang’s journey includes visits to multiple countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore, along with a technical stop in Hong Kong. In a statement, the Sri Lanka Navy announced, "The crew members of the ship will explore some of the tourist attractions of the country during their stay in Colombo. Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel will have the opportunity to participate in briefings on the operational functions of the ship."
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath clarified the decision, explaining that the ship was allowed to dock because it is classified as "a training vessel and not a research craft." He reiterated, "There is no change in the policy regarding research vessels," as reported by AFP.
The ban on foreign research vessels was introduced following frequent requests by Chinese surveillance vessels, which raised security concerns for both India and the US. No Chinese research vessel has docked in Sri Lanka this year, following two such vessels arriving in 2023. The moratorium was due to be formally lifted in January 2025.
Last year, the US released a report suggesting China may have an interest in establishing a military base in Sri Lanka. There have also been reports of China considering the construction of a radar base in Dondra Bay, Sri Lanka’s southernmost point, to monitor the Indian Navy and UK-US military installations on Diego Garcia.
While Sri Lanka has rejected these allegations, military cooperation between the two countries has been steadily increasing.
