India has issued a scathing rejoinder after a Chinese diplomat took veiled dig at Sri Lanka's "northern neighbour" for objecting to the docking of a Chinese military vessel at Hambantota port.
Sri Lanka has reduced a power cut on Sunday August 28 Sunday from three hours to one hour after a coal plant was repaired and re-connected to the grid and lower demand, Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayaka said.
India firmly told China that what Colombo needs now is "support, not unwanted pressure or unnecessary controversies" to serve another country's agenda.
Mincing no words, the Indian high commission to Sri Lanka on Saturday gave an earful to Chinese envoy to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, pointing to his recent remarks as "violation of basic diplomatic etiquette" which "may be a personal trait or reflecting a larger national attitude". The Chinese ambassador had written in 'Sri Lankan Guardian' and said that Sri Lanka "overcome aggression from its northern neighbour 17 times" in an apparent taunt to New Delhi.
India on Monday handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Sri Lanka under a special support programme which will help farmers in this country and help bolster bilateral cooperation for food security, the second such assistance.