Foreign Minister – Ali Sabry has said that no permission has been sought by China to establish a radar base in the Southern Province

He has said this during the political talk show “360°” on TV Derana in response to a query whether Sri Lanka has granted permission for such a request, as claimed by foreign media.

I sought details from the Foreign Ministry and no such request has been made. Therefore, all I can say at this point is that such an approval has not been granted.

A few days earlier, the ‘Economic Times’ reported that China is considering setting up a radar base in Sri Lanka to monitor India’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region and the activities of the Indian Navy, besides strategic assets in the Southern part of the country, including Kudankulam and Kalpakkam nuclear power plants.