A future SJB govt. will bring in amendments to Port City Bill: MP Perera 

Opposition Parliamentarians Ajith P. Perera, Eran Wickramaratne and Mayor of Weligama Rohan Jayawickrama addressing the press 

• Taxpayers have contributed close to $ 1 b in infrastructure and utilities to CPC: Perera
• Says Govt. denied room for broad consultation on the bill and rejected progressive amendments
• Govt is cooking numbers to mislead public: Eran

By Asiri Fernando

A future Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) government will amend the Colombo Port City (CPC) Economic Commission Bill aimed at improving parliamentary oversight and placing regulatory authority in the hands of the Central Bank, SJB Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s office, MP Perera blamed the Government for not giving adequate time for broad consultation on the bill and rejected several amendments tabled by the opposition which would have restored credibility, oversight and improved the regulatory framework of the Colombo Port City. MP Perera was joined by fellow SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne and Mayor of Weligama Rohan Jayawickrama.

MP Perera opined that the Supreme Court only looked into the constitutionality of the bill and not the validity of the policies in it.

“There was never an opportunity for a robust debate on the policies and policy consistency of the CPC bill in the country, within the Government, the opposition, and in Parliament or amongst the Public,” the opposition MP stressed, pointing out that the SJB wanted the Colombo Port City project to be successful due to its potential of becoming a driver of the economy.

“Dr. Harsha De Silva tabled eight progressive amendments to the bill. However, the Government rejected them. These amendments would have benefited Sri Lankans. Sri Lankan taxpayers have contributed to the Port City Project; therefore, the Government and the public must have rights to its shares and profits. Sri Lanka and her citizens should have some control of political and economic stake in the Port City Project,” MP Perera argued.

Perera explained that during the previous Government, Sri Lankan taxpayers contributed close to $ 1 billion in infrastructure, connectivity and utilities such as power and water to the CPC, pointing out that the Chinese investment in the project was the estimated $ 1.5 billion up to date.  

“The previous Government built infrastructure to support the Colombo Port City. I can speak as a former Minister, we, the then Government, provided the infrastructure to deliver electricity, road access and water to the project. Up to now, the Government and taxpayers have provided infrastructure and utilities worth nearly $ 1 billion to the project. We have been told the Chinese company has invested $ 1.5 billion up to date, and in the future, Sri Lankan taxpayers will pay back loans that help establish road and rail connectivity to the project,” MP Perera argued, stressing that for the project to be successful, there must be oversight and an internationally acceptable regulatory framework in place.

Addressing the press, MP Wickramaratne criticised the Government for releasing misleading data on the status of the economy and the COVID-19 outbreak.  

“The Government is misleading the public about the COVID-19 situation and the state of the economy,” Wickramaratne said, arguing that the recent report by the Central Bank (CB) points to a Rs. 42,300 core of Government expenditure in the year 2020 has been moved to the accounts of 2019. Wickramaratne charged that the Government was trying to mislead the public by artificially reducing the budget deficit.

“This is wrong. It is misleading. It is a fraud. I am disappointed to see this in a Central Bank report. We have a lot of respect for the Central Bank, but I ask them not to cave in pressure from the Government,” MP Wickramaratne stated, pointing out that the Government used the move to indicate an 11% budget deficit.

He charged that if the amount was added to the state expenses of 2020, the real budget deficit would have been 14%. Wickramaratne also alleged that the Government has misled the public regarding a drop in foreign debt by stating the market value of International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) in accounts and not the face value of the ISBs, which the state needs to honour upon maturity.

“It is the value of the ISBs that have dropped; the Government is using the market value in place of the face value that they will have to eventually pay for the bonds to mislead the public that foreign debt is declining,” MP Wickramaratne argued.