US Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, who met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, raised concerns about the upcoming visit of the Chinese research vessel 'SHI YAN 6'
China's high-tech research vessel 'Yuan Wang 5' is on a 'mission of peace and friendship' and its docking at a Sri Lankan port will deepen bilateral relations in the field of space, science and technology, according to the controversial ship's captain.
It is not clear whether India will go ahead with the plan for the missile test in view of the presence of the Chinese spy ship.
Keen to forge all-weather ties with India, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has lauded the developmental work undertaken by the country in the war-ravaged northern region and vowed not to allow his nation's soil to be used against it.
The Sri Lankan government has asserted that the recently signed maritime security pacts with India will "neither result in hindrance nor threat" to the island nation's security as "misinterpreted" by several media outlets in this country.
President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday said by bolstering the defence capabilities of the Maldives, the country will soon reach a point where there is no 'foreign' military presence, weeks after he sought the withdrawal of Indian defence personnel from the archipelago nation.
Foreign minister Ali Sabry told the cabinet that the Chinese vessel had only asked for a refuelling visit.
'The 2017 Doklam stand-off in Bhutan, the 2018 Maldives crisis, and the 2020 Nepal Kalapani border dispute shows how Beijing has shot off these countries' shoulders to target India.'
Riled by Sri Lanka's request to defer the planned docking of a high-tech Chinese research vessel at the strategic Hambantota Port, China on Monday took a dig at India, saying it was "senseless to pressure" Colombo by citing the issue of security concerns.
In Ahmedabad to promote tourism in the island nation, Fernando said China has made a lot of investment in Sri Lanka and has been 'understanding its requirements in the past'.
Pakistan does not have any injury concerns but they are one of the most undercooked ODI sides at the moment. Since the 2019 World Cup, the 'Green Brigade' has played just 29 ODIs, whereas India have played 57 matches in the same period. - Asia Cup 2023
A high-tech Chinese research ship docked at the strategically important Hambantota port departed from Sri Lankan waters on Monday after a controversial six-day visit.
Pakistan have had a wonderful record in ODI cricket this year, losing just three matches of the 10 they've played thus far.
Dabrera said he has visited all the three venues personally to oversee the preparations.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the Asia Cup Super 4s match against Pakistan?
Last year, China held a meeting with some South Asian countries on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation without the participation of India.
This is purely cricketing invitation and shouldn't be mixed with politics: BCCI VP Shukla on Pakistan visit
ACC president Jay Shah attributed the body's decision to host Asia Cup matches in Sri Lanka on teams' reluctance to play ODIs in the UAE heat.
China said it has suspended the project due to security concerns from a third party.
PCB newly selected Chief Selector Inzamam Ul Haq announced squads for the upcoming ACC Men's Asia Cup and the three-match One-Day International series against Afghanistan.
The Yuan Wang 5 can easily monitor the Indian coast while operating in international waters. She does not have to enter a port in Sri Lanka to fulfill this mission, points out Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
India and Sri Lanka meet in the opening match of the One-Day International series between the countries in Hambantota on Saturday. The five-match series ends on August 4, following which the team will play a one-off Twenty20 match on August 7. Check out the complete schedule.
The Panama registered tanker New Diamond was carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Kuwait to India when its engine room caught fire off the coast of Sangamankanda in the eastern district of Ampara, Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Capt Indika Silva said.
The navy said that so far the 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil it was carrying had not been affected by the fire.
'We will likely never know why Xi decided not to travel to New Delhi. One possible explanation could be his desire to avoid a meeting with US President Joe Biden.'
'A fragile Sri Lanka will have a serious impact on the security of India.'
The Chinese have been making inroads in Sri Lanka where they recently got a reclaimed port city near Colombo. Prior to that, they gained control over the Hambantota port which was built by them.
Virat Kohli, who fashioned India's 21-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first One-dayer in Hambantota, says that wearing India colours was a big motivating factor for him.
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Doni was fined 20 percent of his match fee while his teammates were docked 10 percent of their earnings for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Hambantota on Saturday.
The warship was to anchor outside the Chattogram port from August 7 to 10 on its journey from Shanghai to Karachi.
Taking the series 3-2 in Hambantota, 11th-ranked Zimbabwe registered its maiden series win in Sri Lanka, and first overseas triumph in eight years.
The Kandy franchise is owned by Bollywood actor and producer Sohail Khan, younger brother of superstar Salman Khan.
Virat Kohli cracked his third consecutive century against Sri Lanka to lead India to a comfortable 21-run win in the first One-day international on Saturday.
The India Under-19 cricket team produced a fine all-round performance to thump Sri Lanka U-19 by an innings and 21 runs in the first Youth Test at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, in Colombo, on Friday.
'Gotabaya will expect India to observe the red line.' 'He even dispensed with any gesture welcoming India as an interlocutor on the Tamil issue.' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
If you are serious about countering the Chinese threat, then the best weapon is investing in real freedom, plurality, elections and democracy. Unfortunately, it isn't an approach all Indians currently seem to agree on, asserts Shyam G Menon.
China hiked its annual defence budget by 7.1 per cent.
Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Modi have learnt from their past mistakes. Modi has understood that Rajapaksa is a 'forever politician' that India has to live with, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
In the endlessly entertaining and absorbing soap opera that is India-Sri Lanka relations, wait for the next episode, Aditi Phadnis reports.
New Delhi is approaching Gota with an open mind, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
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