Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the country’s relationship with India does not depend on New Delhi’s ties with China, adding that the island nation won’t do anything to hurt India’s security.
In an exclusive interview with ‘Firstpost’, President Wickremesinghe said, “India worried about its own security. Sri Lanka won’t do anything to hurt its security.”
When talking about the two Chinese ships that visited Sri Lanka within a year that sparked concerns from India, the President said, ” First we asked evidence whether they were spy ships… there was no evidence. Second one, we had allowed the ship to come and they were in this area. It was not an issue at all. What is a spy ship is a big question mark. These are civilian ships. But if there is any issue, if they are spy ships we will not allow them to come in. But as far as exploration is concerned, we allow not only Chinese ships but other ships… But no one highlights the fact that other ships also come to Sri Lanka… Each time a Chinese ship comes, we get a lot of publicity. But if a research ship comes from another country, we are ignored, the President said, adding that Sri Lanka is developing its own hydrography unit.
When asked whether Sri Lanka would welcome more such ‘research ships’ from China, the President said, “We will welcome any research ship. We have no problems at all as long as it’s for research. “
When asked whether China would also be allowed to dock a military ship in Sri Lanka, he said, “We have always allowed. All ships, military ships from any country, they are all docking in Colombo… Indians, Chinese , Russians, Americans… everyone comes to Colombo.
All parties are split
Mr. Wickremesinghe also denied allegations that he is a ‘surrogate’ for the Rajapaksas’ party. Noting that the Rajapaksas’ party is split, the President had said, “One half is working with the SJB… the other half is working with me.” He also said that the whole of the SJB is not supporting Sajith Premadasa as well.
“All parties are split… So I just ask people to get together to pull the country out.”
Speaking about the economy and country’s creditors, the President said that Sri Lanka’s largest creditor is the International Sovereign Bonds while the largest bilateral creditor is China.
He also highlighted India’s help when the country underwent an economic crisis last year. In May, India extended a $1bn credit line for Sri Lanka by a year. The credit line is part of the $4bn in emergency assistance extended by India.
When asked about plans to contest the Presidential election next year, the President said that his first job is to put the economy into shape and will decide what he wants to do afterwards.
I knew SLC was going to get suspended
Speaking on the issue of the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket, President Wickramasinghe added he knew the country’s board was going to get suspended.
“The opposition has said that the Board of Control has written to the ICC and has said to suspend Sri Lanka. The leader of the opposition gave me a set of letters, I haven’t looked at it. But ICC was anyway going to suspend Sri Lanka, I knew that.”
“We were trying to save the U-19 matches, we were going to have tourism, but that didn’t work out so we lost on all that. I am waiting to see the outcome or the decision of the courts in regard to the interim committee. Once that is done, we’ll have to start talking with the ICC to ensure that Sri Lanka can host matches again.”
“As far as the cricket board is concerned, there is a committee of ministers that are going to it, which will recommend legislation. They’ve spoken to the board members as well as to the interim committee members, but I want to bring legislation which will take away the power of the minister to intervene and interfere in politics,” Mr. Wickramasinghe added.
President Wickremesinghe has also revealed that he has since had a conversation with Shah on the matter.
“No, Jay Shah doesn’t run Sri Lankan cricket. They think that Jay Shah is supporting the cricket board. But I spoke to Jay Shah and felt sorry that his name had been dragged in and apologized. “He said, ‘My position is, whoever is the legal body, I will back. If this lot is the legal body I will back them. If the other lot is the legal body, I will back them. If there’s a third group that’s the legal body, I will back them. That’s not decided by me, that’s decided by ICC,” Wickremesinghe said.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran, Iran has been relocated amid the prevailing situation, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Parliament today (June 17).
Embassy officials have also been moved due to the situation. In addition to embassy staff, eight Sri Lankan students who had been at the Embassy in Tehran have also been relocated to the northern part of Iran due to security concerns.
However, all contact numbers remain operational, the minister added.
Herath said that approximately 35 Sri Lankans remain in Iran, with those residing in Tehran currently facing heightened risks. He also pointed out that nearly 20,000 Sri Lankans are presently in Israel.
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has assured that there is no risk of an impending fuel shortage in the country due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Speaking during the Cabinet briefing earlier today (June 17), he assured that Sri Lanka currently has adequate fuel reserves to meet national demand for at least two and a half months and and that necessary arrangements have been made to procure upcoming fuel shipments without any issues.
He urged the public not to be misled by such claims on social media.
In line with the vision to build a transparent and corruption-free public service, the Secretary General of Parliament has taken steps to establish an “Internal Affairs Unit” in Parliament in accordance with the circular PS/SB/Circular/2/2025 issued by the Presidential Secretariat on 18 February 2025.
The newly established unit aims to achieve several key objectives, including the prevention of corruption, promotion of a culture of integrity, ensuring accountability and transparency in all institutional operations, and guaranteeing public access to information related to parliamentary activities and decisions. Additionally, the unit will work to promote ethical governance, encourage reporting of misconduct, protect whistleblowers through secure and accessible mechanisms, and assist law enforcement agencies and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in enforcing relevant laws.
Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, has been appointed as the Head of the Internal Affairs Unit, while Mr. W.K.D.C. Vithana has been designated as the Integrity Officer. All department heads of Parliament will serve as members of the unit, supported by a dedicated team representing all departments.
The unit held its inaugural meeting on June 6, 2025, under the leadership of Mr. Kularatne. The meeting focused on discussing the implementation procedures in accordance with the directives outlined in the circular.
