In 2016, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had to repay ₨9 billion ($134 million) in construction fees for the Hambantota port, which, by the end of the year, accumulated a loss of ₨46.7 billion ($696 million). After the National United Front won the 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited China to solve the issue. Then, the ports authority rescinded the agreement with the Chinese operators of the port and replaced it with a concession agreement signed in 2017.
