By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The impact of the US sanctions imposed on 24 Chinese companies, which include the company involved in the Colombo Port City Development Project, is still being evaluated by the Port City management and the relevant state authorities, according to Colombo Port City Development Project Director Bimal Prabath Gonaduwa. He told The Sunday Morning that the direct impact of the sanctions was not clear and that details were yet to be received by the authorities. Last week, the US added 24 Chinese companies to a government list that bans them from buying US products, citing their role in helping the Chinese military construct artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. Commenting on the media reports that the sanctions had affected Colombo Port City, the Project Director stressed that the events that had been reported were yet to be communicated to the project office through the proper channels. “Since we didn’t get any information yet regarding (the) sanctions, the economic impact of the sanctions cannot be estimated,” Gonaduwa stressed. Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella told The Sunday Morning that Sri Lanka couldn’t interfere with the matters of the two countries (the US and China) and the matter should be sorted out by the two countries. “We will have to look at alternatives because there’s nothing we can do. This is between the two countries. We still don’t know the types of sanctions and this is a large issue,” he stressed. It is reported that the Chinese Embassy stated that normal business co-operation between licensed companies or individuals from China and Sri Lanka will not be affected by such unilateral and unjust sanctions from a third country. The sanctions have targeted companies and individuals involved with constructions in the South China Sea, particularly the building of artificial islands as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Embassy also stated that the US sanctions, which involve typical hegemonic logic and power politics, have blatantly interfered in China’s internal affairs as well as violated international law and norms governing international relations.