Minister of State for Defense Pramitha Bandara Thennakone officially received the US$ 6.2 million ‘Emergency Command and Communication System Vehicle Convoy’ (11 cars) headed by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense yesterday.
Defense Adviser of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Senior Colonel Sho Bo handed over the donation made by the Chinese Army to the Minister of State for Defense and then the vehicles were handed over to the Secretary of Defense Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne. There he symbolically handed over its keys to the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage.
However, due to this donation from China, Sri Lanka is likely to face unnecessary pressure in regional geopolitics, foreign commentators say. The reason for this is that India is paying close attention to how Sri Lanka is being used in China’s attempt to establish its power in the Indian Ocean region.
They say that this donation of military equipment made at a time when a Chinese research ship is going to arrive in Sri Lanka soon and India is focusing its attention on that arrival will definitely create a hot situation.
Last week, India banned companies in its country from using any Chinese parts, accessories or software in the production of equipment, including drones, used for military purposes.
America is also implementing this kind of ban. India and America have taken this decision because it has been confirmed that China is acquiring intelligence information of other countries through electronic devices manufactured in its country.