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Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga has given assurance that no harm will be done to national security in developing the country.
Addressing a meeting held at the District Secretariat auditorium in Trincomalee Thursday (3), Minister Ranatunga has asserted that the Government would give priority to the country’s legal procedure and proceedings when considering any agreement with foreign investors.
“The fact of where they come from, either Singapore, China, Japan or Ethiopia, does not matter,” the Minister said.
The meeting was aimed at discussing the issues pertaining to the lands owned by Sri Lanka Ports Authority in Trincomalee District. At the meeting, it was discussed to extend legal right of those lands to the people who have settled down and have been living there for several years.
Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, Government officers and several other officials attended the meeting.
Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan speaking at the meeting said that development projects of the country should depend on the policies of the Government instead of personal interest while foreign investments play a significant role in the developing process of a country.
“We have to demand them for targeted economic growth. Singapore mainly depended on foreign investments when carrying out its development projects in 1980 but we never obtained them to the country at the same period of time. Hence, Singapore achieved their development targets while we lost. The time has come to learn lessons from Singapore and welcome appropriate foreign investments to the country at the same time, confirming and safeguarding national security. We should think beyond traditional ways and means,” said.
Ranatunga said that the expectation of everyone was to develop this country as one nation.
“Currently the unity Government is implementing its development plans. It is up to the people to support the Government’s effort. But I confirm that the President or Prime Minister would never engage in any activity which would have a bad impact on national security. The Opposition Leader is also of the same view,” he said.
The Minister, pointing out that the attraction of the investors to the country would depend on Government policies and laws apply on them, noted that the previous regime imposed poor policies and laws on investors. “Politicians depended on their own benefits and personal interests when they considered investors to the country,” he charged.
“Hambantota Harbour is a good example. I would never allow any investor to enter into any place in the country avoiding existing legal procedures. The rule would be the same with regard to the procedures of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping but we saw a completely deferent practice followed by the previous regime on investors. Hence, today many of them who were in previous regimes have been summoned before the law,” the Minister explained.
Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping L.P. Jayampathi and other distinguished guests also participated in the discussions.
