ECT ownership remains with SL: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 

• Pledges to respond to Opposition concerns on Friday

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that the ownership of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo port will remain with Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also promised to give a detailed report on Friday to Parliament, responding to questions raised by Opposition lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake under Standing Order 27/2 on Tuesday. 

“The 100% ownership will continue to remain with Sri Lanka,” the Prime Minister said. 

On Tuesday, MP Dissanayake, highlighting the agreement the Government of Sri Lanka signed with Japan and India to develop the Colombo East Container Terminal with their assistance, criticised the Government for allowing international parties to become a part of the project. Dissanayake, in his speech to Parliament, argued that the ECT should have been developed by the Sri Lankan Government, and claimed a partnership with Japan and India could result in security concerns for Sri Lanka. (AH)