State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, over the weekend, expressed confidence that the stand of Viyathmaga and trade unions that the Government should develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) will prevail with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resolving the issue 

satisfactorily. 

He said that amidst the standoff on the ECT crisis without a proper solution, the Executive Committee of Viyathmaga requested Dr. Nalaka Godahewa to intervene in order to find an amicable solution to the deepening crisis, which has resulted in the Government becoming unpopular amongst the masses. 

State Minister Godahewa accepted the responsibility along with Viyathmaga Executive Committee Member and Water Ministry Secretary Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and intervened on behalf of the professional organisation.

“Port unions have had lengthy discussions over the issue with local and foreign stakeholders as well as with the President for two days without an outcome. Finally, a proposal collectively prepared by 22 unions out of 23 unions was handed over to Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama after a series of discussions,” the statement by the State Minister said. 

Dr. Godahewa met the President on the same day and briefed him about the sensible and positive nature of the union’s proposals. Dr. Godahewa has particularly highlighted that union proposals are aligned with the President’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour policy statement. 

Godahewa said the Ports Authority has been assigned the responsibility of making an official statement on the Government’s position. He believes this will be a solution acceptable to all parties. 

Following is the full text of State Minister Godahewa’s statement. 

We did an intervention yesterday for solving the East Container Terminal issue on behalf of Viyathmaga. This press briefing is to outline what that intervention is. Ports is not a subject under my Ministry as the State Minister in charge of Urban Development. We did this intervention entirely on behalf of Viyathmaga. In the recent past, when various national issues popped up, questions were raised about the Viyathmaga’s stand on those. Similarly, when the East Container Terminal issue became a serious political crisis, many questions were raised about the Viyathmaga’s stand on the matter.

Viyathmaga’s consistent stand is what is stated in the President’s policy statement of Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. Viyathmaga is a key contributor to this policy formation, and our policies will not deviate from it. When it comes to our stand on the East Container Terminal issue as well, our stand is consistent with what is articulated in the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. The policy statement has clearly mentioned that the East Container Terminal will be developed by the Government. So, Viyathmaga’s stand is also the same, and there was no need to question or to make statements again and again on our clear stand.

According to our policy, we were of the view that the ETC should be developed by the Government, and it is the same today, too. But we are also not against foreign investments. Our stand is that we need local and foreign investment for the rapid development of our country. Accordingly, the President’s policy statement clearly mentions that the Government will invite foreign investments for the development of the Colombo Port, other than East Container Terminal. We don’t see a problem in that because 6.9 million people voted, endorsing this policy statement. Hence what we have to say at this moment is that 69 lakhs of people voted for Vistas Of Prosperity and Splendour and the President has not moved an inch beyond his policy statement. 

On the other hand, there was no final decision on the East Container Terminal issue. The Cabinet had only appointed a subcommittee and was awaiting its report. That report has not been submitted yet. It is the patriotic people who are agitated, and we don’t blame them. Our patriotic monks who always come forward to protect the nation were concerned about handing over the ETC to India or an investor. They have all the rights to intervene in these important and sensitive national issues. We stand with them. Also, we want everyone to not misunderstand and interpret our position of not being against foreign investment in other development projects as we support the privatisation of ECT. On the ECT issue, we are very clear that it should be developed by our Government.

When the ECT crisis was deepening, some of the key members of Viyathmaga were firm that we should intervene in this crisis to protect the Government. Our Executive Committee called a meeting to discuss the issue. Accordingly, they mandated me and Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama to start the discussion with the President, the rest of the Government, as well as with port unions. We discussed this with diverse stakeholders during the last two crucial days. You would have witnessed that Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and I participated in the picketing campaign of the port workers. That was only part of the process. We had discussions prior to their picketing, too. We stated at those discussions that the Viyathmaga position is the same as what is mentioned in Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. We had subsequent discussions, too. Accordingly, they handed over a letter signed and stamped by 22 unions out of 23 port employee unions, requesting us to handover their letter to the President.

This letter prepared by the port unions was handed over to Viyathmaga. We handed over their letter to the President yesterday itself; and we, as Viyathmaga, fulfilled our duty on behalf of the people while standing on the principles of Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. We highlighted to the President that the port union’s letter is in line with our policy stated in Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. 

Hence we urged the President and Government to consider the port union proposals favourably. I cannot give an indication of the final decision, because this is not my ministry subject. What I feel is that the President is taking a positive stand. It is the same with regard to the Minister in Charge as well as the Chairman of the Ports Authority. I do not doubt any one of them standing in an opposing position. Hence, I hope that a positive conclusion will be arrived at soon by the relevant authority. Authorities might make a statement today or tomorrow or perhaps through the Cabinet paper itself. 

We are all anticipating a positive outcome. What I wanted to explain to you was that we, as Viyathmaga, are urging the Government to implement everything according to Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour; and we are very positive that it will happen that way.

Fate of ECT hangs in the balance

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