Port workers hold a Chinese flag to welcome research ship Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday. AP

The movements of the ship have fuelled contention between India and China, two of Sri Lanka's biggest allies in its current economic crisis, as India fears China could use the port, near the main Asia-Europe shipping route, as a military base.

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"The vessel will be berthed for three days," the official, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters from the southern port.

"The purpose of staying at the port is to stock up on fuel, food and other essentials."

Food inflation is already at more than 90% year-on-year, according to July data.

Hours after the ship docked, a Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman said the island nation was working to ensure there was no friction between friendly countries.

"Even before this, there have been ships from the United States, India and other countries coming to Sri Lanka," Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana told reporters.

"We have allowed these ships to come. In the same way, we have allowed the Chinese ship to dock."

Food inflation is already at more than 90% year-on-year, according to July data, and the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that about 6.7 million Sri Lankans out of a population of 22 million are not eating enough.

People, including farmers, queue up outside a fuel station in Kilinochchi district, Sri Lanka. Reuters

Foreign security analysts describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China's latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.

The Pentagon says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army.

On Saturday, Sri Lanka said it had agreed the vessel could dock at Hambantota, despite security concerns raised by India and the United States.

India has rejected claims that it has put pressure on Sri Lanka to turn the vessel away.