Express News Service By

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka has told India that it will not do anything against Indian security interests, even as it claimed that Chinese submarines were at Colombo port only for “replenishment purposes”.

This was revealed in a written reply of External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, where two MPs raised the issue of visit of Chinese submarines to Lankan ports.

Sources said, India had raised the matter during the meeting of NSA Ajit Doval and Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the latter’s Delhi sojourn. India raised the matter with Sri Lanka as both “cooperate closely on various issues, including defence and security issues”.

“Sri Lanka has informed that the submarine visited Colombo for replenishment purposes, and has reassured that it would not do anything against the security interests of India. India closely monitors foreign military presence in India’s neighbourhood,” Sushma said.