• Nat’l Organiser alleges Indian firm setting up weapons manufacturing facility 
• queries sale price   

Following the controversy over the permission given to an Indian firm linked to New Delhi’s ministry of Defence to acquire 51% of the Colombo Dockyard, the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), yesterday (02) claimed that allowing a foreign country to set up a weapons manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka will affect Sri Lanka's foreign policy.

This was stated by SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake during a press briefing held yesterday (2) in Colombo. 

"This Indian firm is reportedly a weapons manufacturing company. This company manufactures submarines and warships. Media reports said that setting up a facility that manufactures weapons required by India is in the agreements entered into by Sri Lanka and India," he claimed, questioning the Government as to whether the said shares were sold to establish a weapon manufacturing facility. 

Moreover, Attanayake raised concerns about the agreed-on payment: "Despite the value of 51% of shares being United States dollars ($) 150 million, it has been given to the Indian firm at $ 50 million” he charged.