In her discussion with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, U.S. Under Secretary Victoria Nuland reportedly expressed concerns about the scheduled visit of the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6.
She was informed by Minister Sabry that Sri Lanka, as a neutral nation, had established the Standard Operating Procedure (SPO) that foreign ships and planes must adhere to when conducting any action on Sri Lankan soil.
According to reports, the minister informed her that China could not be the only country excluded from the process because Sri Lanka has taken an impartial stance towards all nations.
She spoke with the minister who is in the country because of the UN General Assembly.
