Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament that there is no decision to vest the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port in its entirety or partially with a foreign entity or to hand over its management.
“The Colombo Port is a vital center for the development of the country,” said the Prime Minister adding the Government of Good Governance (the former government) had inked an agreement for the East Container Terminal without involving the Ministry of Ports and Naval Affairs.
He said the agreement by the former government was carried out by the then Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade with the Indian Government.
The Prime Minister said the then Government of Sri Lankan reached an agreement with India and Japan as well.
Phase 05 of the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) was delayed and therefore to meet the demand at the Colombo Port 03 Gantry Cranes for JCT were moved to ECT to commence operations, said the Prime Minister.
Mahinda Rajapaksa further reiterated there is no decision to vest the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port in its entirety or partially with a foreign entity or to hand over its management.
Source : News First
