The visiting chief of the Sri lankan Navy on Monday assured New Delhi that his country would not allow any activities on its soil that would hurts Indian interests.

“We assure the Indian Government that nothing against India will happen on Sri lankan land and waters around it,” Sri lankan Navy chief Vice- Admiral RC Wijegunaratne said when asked about the docking of Chinese submarines in lankan waters. He asserted that the Chinese presence in lanka was purely for economic reasons and India should have no reasons to worry.

“We have also invited Indian firms,” Wijegunaratne said adding that security at the Colombo Port City would be entrusted to the Sri lankan Navy and not the Chinese as is being speculated. later, in an interaction with media he hoped that training of lankan defence personnel at the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu will restart.

The lankan Navy chief is on an official visit to India from January 29 to February 2 to explore new avenues for naval cooperation apart from consolidating exiting bilateral naval relations between the two countries. During his visit Wijegunaratne held meetings with the Navy chief Admiral Sunil lanba and the DG of the Indian Coast Guard and other senior officials of the Indian forces and Defence Ministry.

The Admiral is also travel to Goa where he will be visiting Naval War College and Goa Shipyard limited besides interacting with Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area. He will further visit the Training Command of the Indian Navy based at Kochi, where he would be briefed on training aspects and visit various training facilities and professional schools. During his visit to Kochi, Wijegunaratne would interact with Sri lankan Naval personnel undergoing training in India.