NewsJapan wants Sri Lanka's southern Hambantota port to be "free of military activities", the visiting Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onedera has said amid concerns in the region over the leasing of the facility to China. Onedera, who arrived here yesterday, is the first Japanese defence minister ever to visit Sri Lanka. His visit comes amid the regional concerns over growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka. He is also scheduled to visit Hambantota. Japan has donated Sri Lanka two coast guards ships.

Source: Sunday Times August 22, 2018 08:03 UTC