China has implied that it will hold off signing further agreements with Sri Lanka on the Hambantota and Colombo ports, until Sri Lanka resolves internal disputes, the South China Morning Post reports.

It said China may hold off until May this year – when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due in China to attend the Silk Road summit – to move on the two agreements, that have met with resistance.

Moves to give China 15, 000 acres of land in Hambantota to develop an industrial zone was heavily opposed by Hambantota residents, religious leaders and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

China considers the agreement with Sri Lanka on Hambantota on par with its agreement with Sri Lanka on Colombo, and will hold off on both until domestic issues are resolved, the South China Morning Post said.