Sri Lankan government handed over the operations of Hambantota port to Chinese companies

The Sri Lankan government today handed over the operations of Hambantota port to two companies having majority Chinese stake. With this, Hambantota International Port Group and Hambantota International Port Services will begin port operations in the south of country, considered a strategic place in the Indian Ocean.

Hambantota port was initially built with Chinese loan during earlier regime but it could not become a profitable venture forcing Sri Lankan government to lease the port operations for 99 years.

Several nations including India have expressed concern over the debt burden created by such huge infrastructure projects for small countries like Sri Lanka.