Sri Lanka

'Yuan Wang 5' docking in Sri Lanka's Hambantota portis part of China's hegemonic exercise, say experts while highlighting thatChina is the only country that has no trust value worldwide. "Its primary objective is to grab the lands and waters of the neighbouring countries," they said.

The Sri Lankan government stated on Tuesday that it had decided to withdraw the sanctions against six Tamil diaspora organisations and 316 people because it was discovered that they were no longer funding terrorist activities.

There were apprehensions expressed by India that the Chinese vessel's tracking systems may attempt to snoop on Indian defence installationswhile on its way to the Sri Lankan port.The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry statement said that the final clearance for the docking was given after the country's government engaged in extensive consultations at a high-level through diplomatic channels.

China has said Sri Lanka has allowed its satellite and missile tracking ship to berth at the Hambantota port on Tuesday, but declined to reveal details of talks with Colombo leading to the bankrupt island's government reversing its earlier stand to defer the high-tech vessel's entry.

The Yuan Wang 5 was originally due to call at Sri Lanka's Chinese-run Hambantota port earliest this month, only for Colombo to ask Beijing to indefinitely defer the visit. The Yuan Wang 5 might be used for satellite and space tracking, and it has particular applications in the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to sources in the Indian government.

A high-tech Chinese research ship that was supposed to dock at Sri Lanka's southern port of Hambantota has not berthed as planned, the country's ports authority said on Friday, days after India expressed security concerns over its presence in the island nation.

In 2008, India and Sri Lanka agreed to work together to strengthen shared cultural and religious values based on the Ramayana heritage.

Former skipper Virat Kohli and a fit-again KL Rahul on Monday returned to a 15-member Indian squad for the Asia Cup, while senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah missed out owing to a back injury.

Amid concerns reportedly concerned by New Delhi, Sri Lanka issued a 'third-person' note to the Chinese embassy in Colombo requesting that the arrival of 'Yuan Wang 5' -- Chinese space and satellite tracking research vessel -- in Hambantota be deferred until further consultations.

Rajapaksa escaped to the Maldives on July 13 and then to Singapore the following day.