Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has opposed leasing of a Hambantota port to Chinese company for 99 years saying it impinges on Sri Lanka's sovereign rights. In a statement issued today, the former President said he is opposed to giving the rights of the landlord to a foreign private company and that the harbour should be controlled by the Ports Authority of Sri Lanka. His comments came as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe signed a an agreement with a Chinese company for lease of a harbour and setting up of economic zone spanning over five districts in south of the country last Saturday.<br/><br/>The ceremony was marked by strong protests from opposition groups and local people on fears that the move will create a Chinese colony and displace them. The former President also opposed leasing of 15000 acres of land for setting up an economic zone saying it will be disproportionate to country's economy. He said the government should fill the free port with investments first before opening more zones saying that the disruption caused to people of the area will be immense if land were to be acquired for this purpose. The Hambantota port was built through Chinese investment of 1.4 billion US dollars during Rajapaksa's rule. However, the port proved to be financially unviable causing the current government to lease it to a Chinese company for 1.12 US billion dollars.