Agitated Ravi Responded to Chinese Ambassador’s Comments

Yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Yi Xianliang during a meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Colombo refuted all allegations raised over China’s role in Sri Lanka and questioned the government as to why it had sought fresh loans from China,  if the interest rates were too high?

He said China has no hidden agenda in Sri Lanka and conducts its affairs with the government in an open and transparent manner.

In response while  speaking to media in Kandy, the Finance Minister said the Chinese ambassador is a good friend of  the government. However the statement he made is incorrect.

He  stated that the president and prime minister appointed him as the Finance Minister of Sri Lanka and not the Finance Minister of China. He has condemned the comment made by Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang.

He  questioned if China is maintaining a clean policy,  then why can’t Sri Lanka do the same? adding that the government has obtained loans from the ADB, the World Bank, the IMF, JAICA and others at an interest rate less than 2%.

Further he  questioned,  if he doesn’t speak of corruption then who should? adding that this maybe a small country but the country is sovereign.