Chinese nuke boats were observed to be loitering around the Indian Ocean region

Gotabaya has assured that he will safeguard India’s interests. He will meet PM Narendra Modi on Friday on his maiden state visit abroad

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs, ahead of Sri Lankan Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s state visit beginning Thursday, has informed Lok Sabha that there are no recent reports of Chinese submarines docking at the Lankan ports.

The ministry, however, informed the House that the government is keeping a close watch on all developments in the Sri Lankan waters.

“No recent reports of Chinese submarines docking at Sri Lankan ports. The government keeps a close watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and economic interests, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it. India and Sri Lanka share a strong and multi-faceted relationship and cooperate closely on various issues including defence and security aspects. India is confident about the strength and enduring nature of its bilateral ties with Sri Lanka,” the MEA said in a written statement in Lok Sabha.

Even before Lanka elected a new President, India had sent a clear message about its discomfort on presence of any foreign navy in Lankan waters that impacts Delhi's security. Gotabaya’s elder brother Mahinda as a President had faced Delhi’s ire twice in 2014 over docking of Chinese submarines in Sri Lanka.

India wants that the new dispensation in Colombo should safeguard its strategic interests including disallowing any Chinese military assets in the island nation and submarines in its territorial waters, ET had earlier reported.

Gotabaya has assured that he will safeguard India’s interests. He will meet PM Narendra Modi here on Friday on his maiden state visit abroad.