Sri Lanka today expressed concern over the Indian proposal to dredge the Palk Straits for the Sethusamudram project and appointed a high-level committee to study the implications of the venture.‘‘The Government of Sri Lanka is concerned that there will be a number of serious implications on the country if the proposed project is implemented by India,’’ the Lankan Government said in a statement. The Lankan Cabinet appointed a high-level ministerial team to make a comprehensive study of implications of the project. The project envisages the creation of a canal by dredging the Palk Straits to clear a new path for international shipping along the Indian coast. ‘‘It has been earmarked that the project could affect international sea traffic now using the Colombo port and it will have a negative impact on environment and livelihood of Sri Lankans involved in fishing,’’ the statement said.‘‘Since the seas of the north-east of Sri Lanka have an important bearing on security issues, it is also identified as an area for security concern,’’ it said.
