India said it will be monitoring the planned docking of a Chinese ship in a port in crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
Research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 is en route to the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota and is expected to arrive on August 11.
India tracks any development with a bearing on its security and economic interests and takes measures to safeguard them, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.
Rival nations are trying to expand their influence in the strategic island nation of Sri Lanka.
China has a major say in the Hambantota Port, the commercial activities of which were handed over to Beijing in 2017 on a 99-year lease after Sri Lanka failed to pay its debts.
“China in the camouflage of the Belt and Road Initiative is militarising the Indian Ocean and this is a preliminary measure,” Srikanth Kondapalli, Delhi-based China expert, told The National. “In the event of war between India and China and Pakistan, China could disrupt the maritime trade in the region.”
Yuan Wang 5, a third-generation tracking ship, will dock for a week to conduct satellite control and research in the Indian Ocean, consultancy Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka said.
“The Yuan Wang 5 will conduct space-tracking, satellite control and research tracking in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September,” it said.
China is one of Sri Lanka's biggest lenders and has also funded its airports, roads and railways.
New Delhi is concerned that the $1.5 billion Hambantota Port will become a Chinese military base and will use research ships for maritime surveillance and to gather intelligence, particularly around India.
A Chinese naval vessel which docked in Colombo in 2014 drew New Delhi’s ire.
India provides significant financial support for its cash-strapped neighbour, currently going through economic and political instability, and provided a $500 million line of credit for fuel.
It has also pledged support of more than $3.8bn for “ameliorating the serious economic situation” in Sri Lanka, beyond sending tonnes of rice, medicine and milk powders to the ailing country since April.
MATCH INFO
Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)
Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
