- Title: Chinese footprint across Sri Lanka annoys citizens facing economic crisis
- Date: 8th April 2022
- Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (APRIL 08, 2022) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF UNDER-CONSTRUCTION COLOMBO CITY PORT BY CHINA ENTRY GATE SIGNBOARD READING (English and Sinhalese): "NO ENTRY, AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY" UNDER CONSTRUCTION PORT CITY (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING: "I don't think that it's (the port city) a good idea because (it feels like) the country is li
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2022 11:44
- Keywords: China Colombo Port city India Sri Lanka economic crisis food fuel inflation water
- Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- City: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- Country: Saint Lucia
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001G6OY2BZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An under-construction luxurious international financial hub of Colombo City Port by Chinese firms is annoying locals facing the worst economic crisis in decades in Sri Lanka.
The debt trap and economic crisis of Sri Lanka are largely attributed to the ruling Rajapaksa family including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"It feels like the country is sold to those people (China)," said a young resident of the Colombo city on Friday (April 08).
The port city deal in 2014 invited both domestic and international criticism for the Rajapaksa government and their proximity to China.
About half of the 269 hectares of the land being used for the construction of the port city is owned by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a part of the state-run China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC).
The port has also faced some strong reactions from environmentalists. Maritime experts and veterans had also warned of the repercussions of giving absolute ownership to China.
Earlier, a similar debt trap forced Sri Lanka to privatise 80 percent controlling stake of the Hambantota Port to repay some foreign bonds. This stake was brought by a Chinese company, China Merchants Port, who were granted a 99-year lease of the strategically important port by the Sri Lankan government.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked a state of emergency late on Tuesday (April 05) after dozens of lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition, leaving his government in a minority in parliament as it struggles to quell protests against the crisis.
Sri Lankans have been suffering from shortages of fuel, power, food and other items for weeks, and doctors say the entire health system could now collapse. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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