Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that India was “silent” on growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka while it was more vocal on the issue during his administration. 

“All my Indian friends were shouting against me when Chinese submarines came to Colombo port. But now they are silent like rats,” he added addressing foreign correspondents.

When questioned regarding the basis the claim that Indians were no longer worried about Chinese influence in Lanka, he said, “They were openly expressing it then”.

Ex-president thought India might also be waiting to see if the Trincomalee harbour or the Palaly airport in the north may be given to them by the current government.