The Government has announced that the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port will be operated 100% by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said during discussions with trade unions that the cabinet paper in this regard will be submitted today.
He further said that the report submitted by the committee appointed to study the agreement had revealed that the foreign company had refused to accept the terms and conditions provided in this regard, resulting in the terminal being operated 100% by the Ports Authority.
Commenting on the matter, Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa said the decision is a victory for all those who called for complete Government ownership in the development of the terminal.
He further said that however, the Western Terminal of the Colombo Port will be developed under a Public- Private Partnership.
Stating that it could be with India or even the West Indies, Minister Weerawansa said that it was agreed to develop the Western Terminal using foreign investment under the President’s National Policy ‘Saubhagya Dakma’. (NewsWire)
