Sri Lanka, May 24 -- Bonded warehouses established by China in Sri Lanka during the final phase of the conflict enabled immediate access to military supplies and played a decisive role in the country's war effort.

Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, said Beijing went to the extent of setting up bonded warehouses at the ports of Colombo and Galle during the critical 2006 to 2009 period.

"That meant we could go there with a letter of authorisation from the Ministry of Defence. It was like carrying a shopping list, going to a weapons supermarket. You collect what you want, use it, and pay later," Colombage said.

He noted that these warehouses were stocked with a wide range of military supplies bro...