Sri Lanka is considering a request from China to allow a research ship to dock in the country, a year after a Chinese spy vessel's visit raised security concerns in India. The Chinese research vessel, 'SHI YAN 6', is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka in October for marine research activities. The country's foreign ministry is currently reviewing the application. Sri Lanka sees both India and China as important partners in its external debt restructuring, as it owes $3 billion to China among its total bilateral debt of $7.1 billion.