China and India are fiercely competing to control an airport that basically nobody uses

by Dramelin 7:00 PM 0 comments

Sri Lanka has long had deep ties with New Delhi, but it`s fallen into China`s orbit in recent years, with the country a key member of Beijing`s wide-ranging "Belt and Road" infrastructure project.
India, which isn`t a member,is wary the scheme could translate into increased Chinese political and military power in New Delhi`s backyard.
Now that a state-owned Chinese company is running Sri Lanka`s Hambantota port, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s administration is worried about Chinese influence on its ally.
New Delhi is in advanced talks with Colombo to take over Hambantota`s airport, Sri Lanka`s civil aviation minister Nimal Siripala told Reuters in October.
But China also wants to manage the money-losing facility, which was built on funds borrowed from Beijing, and it`s not clear which country Colombo will choose.
Rivalry with Beijing is likely driving India`s interest in the airport, explained Duncan Innes-Ker, regional director of Asia and Australasia at the Economist Intelligence Unit.