Are concerns over Chinese presence in Sri Lanka valid?

China buys part of a port in Hambantota for the next 99 years, but critics complain a Chinese colony is being built.

It's a deal that the Sri Lankan government hopes will pay off some of its multi-billion dollar debts to China.

A controversial agreement has been signed to lease the port of Hambantota to a Chinese state-owned company for the next 99 years.

The Chinese government helped foot the $1.3bn bill for the construction of the redeveloped port in southern Sri Lanka.

An industrial zone near the port hopes to attract Chinese investment.

Critics complain a Chinese colony is being built.

Sri Lankan leaders insist Chinese debts need to be repaid and the deal will attract investment and create jobs.

Is the deal too high a price to pay?

Presenter: Richelle Carey

Guests:

Christopher Balding - Associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School

Einar Tangen - Political affairs analyst

Uday Bhaskar - Director of Society for Policy Studies in New Delhi

Source: Al Jazeera News

Commenting has been disabled. To find out more, click here.

The Philippines’ Typhoon Haiyan was the strongest storm ever to make landfall. Five years on, we revisit this story.

Russian-Saudi relations could be very different today, if Stalin hadn't killed the Soviet ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

We explore how Salah Ed-Din unified the Muslim states and recaptured the holy city of Jerusalem from the crusaders.

Many Pentecostal churches in the Niger Delta offer to deliver people from witchcraft and possession - albeit for a fee.

MUST-SEE PROGRAMMES