Sri Lanka allows Chinese ship to visit port despite India's protests

Sri Lanka has granted permission for a Chinese research vessel to visit the country after initially deferring the planned trip due to pressure from neighboring India.

The Yuang Wang 5 will be at Hambantota port from Aug. 16-22, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

The vessel was originally due at the Chinese-built and -leased port in southern Sri Lanka on Aug. 11.

Colombo asked Beijing to postpone the visit amid “security concerns” raised by New Delhi, which fears the ship could spy on its military facilities and that China plans to use Hambantota as a military base.