Rajapaksa played India Vs China game, says new Lanka PM Wickremasinghe

Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government tried to pit China and India against each other.

"President Rajapaksa's regime tried to play China against India and India against China but it came a cropper," Wickramasinghe told NDTV.

Responding to a question on pro-China stance of the Mahinda Rajapaksa-government, Ranil Wickremasinghe assured that the new government will have an even-handed approach to its neighbours.

"We are looking into all foreign contracts and local ones, and where there is corruption we will certainly ensure we take action whether it be Chinese or any other country," he added.

After civil war ended in Sri Lanka, the China's investment in the island nation surged to a whole new level during Rajapaksa government. The Chinese banks funded major multi-million dollar infrastructure projects, including building a port city close to Colombo.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's heavily-drained flag carrier on Saturday said it will scrap all flights via the country's newest international airport named after Mahinda Rajapaksa for "rationalising" its operations.

It said flying from Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, built with funds from a Chinese bank, was a huge burden on the carrier already troubled carried weigh downed with debts of nearly $ 650 million.