Questions have been raised in the Sri Lankan media about the presence of Chinese individuals in uniform similar to those worn by soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army at a local development project in the southern part of the island nation.

The Chinese individuals wearing uniforms that are very much similar to those worn by soldiers in China’s People’s Liberation Army have been seeing roaming at a civil operation to dredge and clean the ‘Tissamaharama Wewa’ in southern Sri Lanka, the NewsFirst reported on Wednesday.

The report recalled that attempts made to adopt the MCC or Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement, which would permit US military boots on Sri Lankan soil, were shot down due to serious public outcry over the recent years.

“However, over in the south of Sri Lanka, uniformed foreigners are seen roaming at a civil operation which is to dredge and clean the ‘Tissamaharama Wewa’, said to have been constructed in the 3rd Century BC by a Sri Lankan King,” it said.

The News First report raising serious concerns said that in an extremely strange agreement, the company is not charging the government for the extensive ‘clean-up’ work that includes the installation of specialized machinery, but will instead pay for the dredged sediment which it will, in turn, sell.

“However, what is a serious matter of concern at the moment is the presence of camouflage-clad individuals at a Sri Lankan development project,” it stressed.

“What is happening under the Chinese Joint Venture (JV) to dredge and clean some of Sri Lanka’s most ancient irrigation tanks?” News First questioned, according to ColomboPage.

(SAM)