ISAS Briefs

The Sri Lankan Parliament recently approved a new operational structure for the controversial Hambantota port. This structure has created separate joint venture companies to manage commercial and non-commercial functions that have Chinese and Sri Lankan businesses as the majority partners in both functions. This paper examines whether the model can become a template for future projects in the Chinaled Belt and Road Initiative that, while promising more resources for regional infrastructure, has also given rise to serious geostrategic concerns.