China-funded port city project in Sri Lanka continues under new president

Spokesman for Sri Lanka’s newly elected government Rajitha Senaratne told reporters that a US$1.5 billion Chinese-funded port city project planned under the previous administration will go ahead despite an incomplete environmental assessment in order to avoid a “misunderstanding” with Beijing, The Guardian reported. Since being elected last month, President Maithripala Sirisena’s government has moved to mend relations with the United States and neighboring India, which were strained during the pro-Beijing administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The decision to continue the port project is seen as an effort to reassure China.