After Mahinda Rajapakse’s visit to China, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri announced in Japan that Sri Lanka intends to lift the ban on foreign research ships by the end of this year. The one-year ban, imposed last year, targeted China. India and the United States had objected to allowing Chinese research ships to enter Sri Lanka. Ranil’s government implemented the ban in response to this opposition
Ranil’s government imposed this ban as part of debt restructuring efforts and to gain support from the IMF, needing backing from the United States, India, and Japan. The government prioritized winning the goodwill of these countries over China. Before the ban, the Chinese ambassador in Sri Lanka was very active, but both the ambassador and the Chinese embassy became silent after the ban was imposed. Amid this silence, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited China. Although he signed several agreements with China, no significant progress has been seen. During Dinesh’s visit, there were rumours of an agreement regarding research ships, but this did not materialize.
International media speculated that China might disturb Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring due to the shipping embargo, but this did not happen. Mahinda Rajapakse visited China after the debt restructuring agreement between China and Sri Lanka was announced. China inviting Mahinda held no strategic advantage but demonstrated China’s commitment to its friends in times of trouble. After Mahinda’s visit, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri, during a visit to Japan, announced that the ban on Chinese research ships would be lifted. However, he later clarified to the media that he did not make such a statement and that the Sri Lankan government has not yet made such a decision.
China initially thought of Ranil as a ruler who would be influenced by Rajapakses.. Ranil also made a big effort to change China’s opinion that he was a pro-American leader. Chinese research ships were allowed despite American and Indian objections. However, China did not change its opinion that Ranil is a Pro American. Ranil’s tenure is still months away. He won’t bother lifting the Chinese shipping embargo. He will hand it over to the next president. Ali Sabri’s statement that the embargo would be lifted may have been withdrawn on Ranil’s advice.
