A year ago, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had just then returned to power after a gap of over 10 years, chose Guruvayur, a temple town in India’s southern State of Kerala, to make a pertinent observation on his country’s ties with two big neighbours, India and China. “Sri Lanka is neither pro-India nor pro-China” was his crisp comment.

China has called for fast-tracking negotiations with Sri Lanka over the USD 750 million second phase of the Hambantota port which in the past caused unease in India over concerns that the project is part Beijing's 'string of pearls' strategy to contain it.

Train services along the main line have been delayed due to a container truck damaging the overhead rail bridge at Peliyagoda, the Department of Railways said.