MP Ramanathan sees sinister motives in those opposing Chinese funded projects

By Dinasena Ratugamage

Opposition to Chinese-funded projects was politically motivated, SLFP MP Angajan Ramanathan said yesterday.

MP Ramanathan said that since Independence Sri Lanka had received foreign aid from many countries. “However, in recent times, some groups have been painting a black picture of China. While claiming that they are against discrimination, they are spreading the most awful xenophobic propaganda against the Chinese.”

Addressing the media in Jaffna, MP Ramanathan said Sri Lanka and China had maintained commercial and diplomatic relations for thousands of years and Sri Lanka had had a small Chinese community for centuries.

“Now, some Opposition parties are objecting to the Chinese-funded projects. This is strange because when these parties were in power, they too asked for and received Chinese aid. It is wrong to spread malicious propaganda against one of our best friends.”

MP Ramanathan said that recently TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran had alleged that Chinese nationals were engaged in road construction work in the North.

“The TNA MP even posted a photo of a construction worker on social media claiming that he was a Chinese national. However, the person in the photo was a Sri Lankan Muslim from Batticaloa. This is the kind of allegations these people make,” the SLFP MP said.