Chinese ship “Yuan Wang-5,” which is commonly thought to be a spy ship, has been given permission to dock at Hambantota Port on August 16, according to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister.

The approval for the vessel’s delayed arrival from 16 to 22 August 2022 was transmitted to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on August 13, 2022, after all necessary materials had been taken into consideration, according to a statement from Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Foreign affairs ministry provided specifics about the procedure, stating that they were informed by China of the arrival of Yuan Wang 5 via a diplomatic note on June 28.

Notably, Chinese ship will now arrive on August 16 and depart on August 22 instead of docking at the Chinese-leased Hambantota port on August 11 as originally planned.

People’s Republic of China Embassy urged that the Sri Lankan government offer all required support and give the proposal serious consideration.

The statement reads, “The vessel Yuan Wang-5 was scheduled to arrive in the port of Hambantota on August 16, 2022, and applied for clearance for replenishment purposes for the new dates 16 to 22 August 2022. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China informed Ministry via Diplomatic Note on August 12, 2022.”

Sri Lankan foreign ministry sought to reaffirm their nation’s policy of friendliness and cooperation with all nations. The neighborhood’s safety and collaboration are of the highest importance.

In accordance with its commitments under international law, Sri Lanka intends to protect the legitimate interests of every nation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing its gratitude for all nations’ assistance, solidarity, and understanding, particularly at this time when Sri Lanka is dealing with serious economic difficulties and pursuing numerous internal initiatives to ensure the welfare of its citizens.

Earlier this week, Sri Lanka acknowledged that it had requested China postpone the Chinese warship Yuang Wang 5’s arrival to Hambantota port.