Sino – Lanka Relations: A Critical Study on Chinese Importance in Sri Lankan Economic Development

China as an economic giant, desires for strategic interest in Asian countries to counter Indian rising. Sri- Lankan geopolitical location attracts China so that it can create a new hegemonic dimension in the Indian Ocean. This research aims to critically analyze to what extend Sri Lanka is more important to china and how china influence Sri Lanka’s economic development. Besides this paper focuses on how political, economic and strategic interests of the China works behind to make Sri Lanka more and more dependent on them with the economic investment to Lankan projects and trade activities. To find the answers, it aims to convince the changes in economic conditions in Sri Lanka due to the power and investments of China as their strategic plans. Chinese importance towards Lankan economy is discussed with neo-realism theory, realism and liberalism with the support of critical theories in International Relations. Relating Chinese strategy in Sri Lanka, economic development projects highlighted by China, power expansion in the Indian Ocean and Chinese hiding intention aspects are correlated in this paper. In this process, several critical areas have also been highlighted and connected.