Thursday May 14, 2026
Thursday May 14, 2026
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 05:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka yesterday denied speculation that the Government has decided to privatise the East Container Terminal (ECT), insisting that no policy decision has been taken despite growing investor interest.
Addressing the media, Karunathilaka said the Government remains open to receiving investment proposals, but stressed that no formal move has been made to privatise the strategic terminal.
“As a Government, we have not told investors not to submit proposals. We are engaging in discussions with interested parties, but no policy decision has been taken,” he confirmed.
The Minister said that if the Government eventually considers any strategic decision regarding the Terminal, it would first be discussed with port workers, trade unions, and other stakeholders to ensure any outcome benefits the national economy, the port sector, and the wider public.
He also dismissed recent public claims suggesting that plans to privatise the Terminal were already underway.
“No proposal related to the privatisation of the ECT has been discussed at the Cabinet, within the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, at the Ministry, or at any other formal Government level,” Karunathilaka said.
The ECT at the Port of Colombo remains one of Sri Lanka’s most strategically significant maritime assets, with past investment discussions drawing both domestic political sensitivity and international commercial interest.
