Sri Lanka's Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva spoke&nbsp;to WION on Hambantota and Colombo ports, investments by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in the country, and more.

"We have excellent relations with India. India is helping and we are reciprocating. We have started flights from India to our airports. We have started ferry services to and from Madras [Chennai]. We have increased connectivity," de Silva told WION on the sidelines of the sixth international Indian Ocean Conference in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

"We have to be mindful about the security of India. We have very friendly relationship," the minister emphasised, while adding that New Delhi is helping Colombo build its energy sector.

"We have requested India to come to Trincomalee port and do the value addition," he said, in an invitation for New Delhi to invest in the port, located about 262 km southwest of Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

The Sri Lankan ports minister also expressed confidence on the Indian conglomerate Adani group's investment in Colombo port.

The minister added that while Colombo had to sell the Hambantota port to China, it has ensured that the port is not used for war or security purposes.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Sri Lanka urges China to not dock at Hambantota port

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-urges-china-to-not-dock-at-hambantota-port-504363/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"We had to sell the Hambantota [port]. We asked India to take it over and the US to take it over. Then the&nbsp;Chinese came and took it over. It is a private sector [takeover].&nbsp;It is not being used for other purposes.&nbsp; Our agreement with the Chinese is very clear that it cannot be used for any war or security purposes but only trade," he added.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Sri Lanka's Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva spoke to WION on Hambantota and Colombo ports, investments by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in the country, and more.

Sri Lanka's Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva spoke to WION on Hambantota and Colombo ports, investments by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in the country, and more. "We have excellent relations with India. India is helping and we are reciprocating. We have started flights from India to our airports. We have started ferry services to and from Madras [Chennai]. We have increased connectivity," de Silva told WION on the sidelines of the sixth international Indian Ocean Conference in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. "We have to be mindful about the security of India. We have very friendly relationship," the minister emphasised, while adding that New Delhi is helping Colombo build its energy sector. "We have requested India to come to Trincomalee port and do the value addition," he said, in an invitation for New Delhi to invest in the port, located about 262 km southwest of Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The Sri Lankan ports minister also expressed confidence on the Indian conglomerate Adani group's investment in Colombo port. The minister added that while Colombo had to sell the Hambantota port to China, it has ensured that the port is not used for war or security purposes. ALSO WATCH | Sri Lanka urges China to not dock at Hambantota port × "We had to sell the Hambantota [port]. We asked India to take it over and the US to take it over. Then the Chinese came and took it over. It is a private sector [takeover]. It is not being used for other purposes. Our agreement with the Chinese is very clear that it cannot be used for any war or security purposes but only trade," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Exclusive: Hambantota port with China can't be used for war, Sri Lankan minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolving parliament and announcing snap polls in January are unfounded, a senior minister said here Sunday.&nbsp;

The political crisis in the island nation deepened on Friday as Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed by him under controversial circumstances.

"It was a decision made after obtaining legal advice and opinion even from former chief justices...We have let the people to decide, so there is nothing wrong in it," Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.&nbsp;

The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of the President's move are unfounded, the Sirisena loyalist said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres, the European Union and several countries, including the US, the UK, Australia and Norway, have expressed concern over Sirisena's move to dissolve the parliament, which was to reconvene on November 14.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka is facing a major constitutional crisis after Sirisena ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa on October 26 and suspended parliament. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Sirisena had earlier claimed at a public rally that he has the support of 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove the premiership of Rajapaksa.

His comments came after Speaker Karu Jayasuriya slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test.

With eight United National Party (UNP) and one Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislators defecting to the Rajapaksa camp, the former president was hopeful of passing the floor test.&nbsp;

Sirisena had earlier suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. However, owing to domestic and international pressure, he later issued a notice to reconvene parliament on November 14.&nbsp;

The parliament would now convene on January 17 after the snap polls.

The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolving parliament and announcing snap polls in January are unfounded, a senior minister said here Sunday.

The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolving parliament and announcing snap polls in January are unfounded, a senior minister said here Sunday. The political crisis in the island nation deepened on Friday as Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed by him under controversial circumstances. "It was a decision made after obtaining legal advice and opinion even from former chief justices...We have let the people to decide, so there is nothing wrong in it," Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. The concerns raised by the international community on the legality of the President's move are unfounded, the Sirisena loyalist said. UN chief Antonio Guterres, the European Union and several countries, including the US, the UK, Australia and Norway, have expressed concern over Sirisena's move to dissolve the parliament, which was to reconvene on November 14. Sri Lanka is facing a major constitutional crisis after Sirisena ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa on October 26 and suspended parliament. Sirisena had earlier claimed at a public rally that he has the support of 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove the premiership of Rajapaksa. His comments came after Speaker Karu Jayasuriya slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test. With eight United National Party (UNP) and one Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislators defecting to the Rajapaksa camp, the former president was hopeful of passing the floor test. Sirisena had earlier suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. However, owing to domestic and international pressure, he later issued a notice to reconvene parliament on November 14. The parliament would now convene on January 17 after the snap polls.

International concerns on Sri Lanka elections unfounded: Minister

nimal-siripala-de-silva

Nimal Siripala De Silva, News on Nimal Siripala De Silva, stories on Nimal Siripala De Silva, articles on Nimal Siripala De Silva, Nimal Siripala De Silva stories at Wion, Nimal Siripala De Silva news, Nimal Siripala De Silva latest news

nimal siripala-de-silva

Exclusive: Hambantota port with China can't be used for war, Sri Lankan minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

International concerns on Sri Lanka elections unfounded: Minister