report in The Island, Dec 30, 2023
In comparison with other countries, Sri Lanka had received fewer benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative, with investments amounting to 14 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) affiliated Asia Progress Forum (APF) said.
The investments made by this Initiative in Laos and Cambodia are 140 percent and 60 percent, respectively of their GDPs, the APF said.
“This makes it clear that our country, which has over 2,000 years of relations with China, has benefitted very little from this Initiative. Moreover, the management of what we have already received has been sluggish and subject to discriminatory treatment, the APF said. The activities of the Colombo Port City may be cited as an example.”
Given below are excerpts of the APF statement: “……. Fake narratives, such as “the Belt and Road Initiative strengthens autocracies,” have also been spread…..Only about 10 percent of the foreign loans received by Sri Lanka have come from China. ……
https://island.lk/lanka-got-fewer-benefits-from-belt-and-road-initiative-due-to-anti-china-environment-created-here-cp/
