Rumors on ties with Sri Lanka dismissed

Rumors that China and Sri Lanka engaged in an arms deal during the southeast Asian country's recent civil war was rejected by visiting Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on Friday.

"Sri Lanka and China enjoy a traditional bilateral relationship and have enjoyed a smooth development of cooperation since the diplomatic ties were established in 1957," Bogollagama told China Daily.

He dismissed speculations that China was providing military equipment to Sri Lanka to fight against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and said the rumors of arms sales are based on "no facts and figures".