Sri Lanka notes assistance given by China during war

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Nov. 1 (APD) -- Sri Lanka on Wednesday noted the assistance given by China during the war against Tamil Tiger rebels.

Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that most countries were not keen to give ships during the war.

He said that while China openly gave Sri Lanka military hardware countries like India were not willing to do it openly.

Senaratne said that as a result the Sri Lanka Navy had to use small crafts during the war and not war ships.

Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers were involved in a 30 year war in which thousands were killed on both sides.

The Sri Lankan military defeated the rebels in May 2009, and the victory was in part attributed to the support received from China.

Meanwhile, the Defence Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, Senior Colonel Xu Jianwei called on the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe at the Navy Headquarters this week, the Navy media unit said.

During the cordial interactions that ensued after the exchange of pleasantries, the Senior Colonel Jianwei extended his best wishes to Vice Admiral Ranasinghe on his new appointment as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ranasinghe took office this week as the 22nd Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)