Crew of Chinese scientific research ship Yuan Wang 5 wave their country's national flags from the ship after arriving at Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.

Crew of Chinese scientific research ship Yuan Wang 5 wave their country's national flags from the ship after arriving at Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.

Sri Lanka leased the Hambantota deep sea port to China for 99 years for $1.12bn, less than the $1.4bn Sri Lanka paid a Chinese company to build it. Advertisement .

Yuan Wang 5, a Chinese scientific research ship, arrives at the port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Tuesday on 16 August 2022 after an earlier port call was deferred due to apparent security concerns (AP) ...

Sri Lankan port workers hold a Chinese national flag to welcome Chinese research ship Yuan Wang 5 as it arrives in Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.

Photo taken on Aug. 16, 2022 shows China's space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 docking at Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

People welcoming China's ship Yuan Wang 5 wave Chinese and Sri Lankan flags at Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port in Sri Lanka, Aug. 16.

Sri Lanka has allowed a Chinese spy vessel to dock at the Hambantota port this month, the island nation's army spokesman said on Sunday, days after India said it carefully monitored any ...

Port workers at Hambantota gave an enthusiastic welcome to the Yuan Wang 5, waving Sri Lanka and China flags, while the ship displayed a large banner reading: “Hello Sri Lanka.” ...

A Chinese survey ship docked this week at the Hambantota port, built with Chinese loans. Some worry the ship's arrival may signal the start of militarization of Chinese infrastructure in Sri Lanka.