Sri Lanka allows Chinese navy ship to dock despite ban

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said China’s Po Lang, a triple-masted tall ship with 130 crew, was given permission to dock in Colombo because it was “a training vessel and not a research craft”.

“There is no change in the policy regarding research vessels,” Herath told reporters.

Colombo’s navy said the Chinese crew would stay until Friday, visiting “tourist attractions of the country” as well as offering “briefings” to Sri Lankan sailors.