Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port to have a Chinese navel base: report

Nov 19, 2014 (LBO) – The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is to build 18 naval bases in various regions in the next 10 years including in Sri Lanka, a media report said. The Namibian newspaper quoting Chinese media reports said Hambantota Port is among the three navel bases that will be established in the northern Indian Ocean.

However Sri Lanka’s defence ministry refuted reports that claimed China is planning to establish a naval base in Sri Lanka.

The full text of the news report published by The Namibian newspaper is reproduced below.

Chinese naval base for Walvis Bay

DISCUSSIONS are under way at the 'highest levels' regarding plans by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy to build a base at Walvis Bay in the next 10 years.

According to reports in the Chinese media, Walvis Bay will be one of 18 naval bases that will be established in various regions: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mynanmar in the northern Indian Ocean; Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique in the western Indian Ocean; and Seychelles and Madagascar in the central South Indian Ocean.

These three strategic lines will further en