Port city project to start soon: Arjuna

27 June 2015 04:11 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Work on the Colombo Port City project will begin soon as it has not been cancelled, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga informed Parliament yesterday.

The Minister said work on the project was suspended as there were some serious issues pertaining to the legality as well as environment issues. He said a legal issue did exist on the ownership of the port city land which had been given to China though there was no legal provision for such a move. He said land could only be leased out according to the law. However he said these issues would be resolved soon.

Mr. Ranatunga was responding to some queries made by opposition MP Bandula Gunawardne who called for the resumption of the project.

The Minister who also responded to a comment made by MP M. L. A. M. Hisbullah said one should look into the environment aspect as well. “What are we going to do if the sea erodes into the lands creating a huge disaster?" he questioned while claiming that there was a risk of Wattala and Mount Lavinia going under water because of the project.

Mr. Gunawardene said Sri Lanka would lose a great opportunity if the project did not get off the ground. He said nearly 100,000 job opportunities would be lost in such an eventuality. The MP also questioned the role of India with regard to the Port city project. Accordingly he said India should realize that Sri Lanka was a country trying to get its development drive going.(Yohan Perera)

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Comments - 30

sarath Saturday, 27 June 2015 06:28 PM

Now it is too late, damage had been already done but at least at this stage Minister had realized the need of the day.

Sorinis Wednesday, 01 July 2015 09:26 AM

Why was this stalled anyway,transfer of funds this way?

hari31 Sunday, 28 June 2015 03:01 PM

I thought people complained about ports without ships, airports without planes and we pay millions in interest to Chings. Now they praise the lord MR???

ANTON Sunday, 28 June 2015 12:52 PM

PRAISE THE LORD, FINALLY THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOME WORK. EXPECT THE CAPTAIN COOL WILL NOT MISS THE SWEEP SHOT.

Sapu Sunday, 28 June 2015 11:52 AM

@yahapaluwa, Dream ON! the next regiem would be lead by PM Ranil and President MY3

Sapumal Sunday, 28 June 2015 11:50 AM

@yahapaluwa are you blind or delusional? After August17 their would be a MS-RW regime

Sapumal Sunday, 28 June 2015 11:50 AM

@yahapaluwa are you blind or delusional? After August17 their would be a MS-RW regime

Lanka Sunday, 28 June 2015 03:43 AM

So weird.....One of the ways that The Yahapalanaya came to power was scoring on this project saying that this should NOT continuedue to blah....blah...blah... Now, what?

shantha gamlath Sunday, 28 June 2015 12:39 AM

Excellent, good decision.

TONY Sunday, 28 June 2015 12:26 AM

SRI LANKANS SEEM TO BE HAVING SHORT MEMORY. MR WAS VOTED OUT DUE TO CORRUPTION ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHY THESE PROJECTS THAT WAS UNDER MR COST THE TAX PAYER SUCH A HUGE SUM

samnyc Saturday, 27 June 2015 11:18 PM

Sikuru,Actually that honour goes to India,,,

dharma Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:35 PM

the port is the subject to decide by the new government,after the election not by one person. mr Rajapaska did all project and get very high commission. he answerable to corruption. there must be a legal action against him new parliament must do the needful.

simon Saturday, 27 June 2015 08:35 PM

Exactly!Was he asleep all these days !

kkkk Saturday, 27 June 2015 08:35 PM

you too Arjuna.. via DM Android App

Libtard Saturday, 27 June 2015 06:29 PM

Do you think sri lanka is in a fish tank? People have been filling up the sea for centuries.

ranga Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:06 AM

ඈ බොල සක්‍යතා කොරල බැලුවද ?

Don Saturday, 27 June 2015 05:52 PM

@Sikuru: western countries hide their statistics. they report most suicides as acciednts. just for information

cha Saturday, 27 June 2015 05:32 PM

Your time is up man - now time to get lost :)

kamal Saturday, 27 June 2015 04:59 PM

Ownership of the port city land to China?????Shame on you MR. you are traitor.

citizen Saturday, 27 June 2015 04:13 PM

ita another election drama,when our people going to realize that

Cheers Saturday, 27 June 2015 02:13 PM

New govt and the new minister will do that you might have start playing cricket for a living mate

yahapaluwa Saturday, 27 June 2015 02:10 PM

Port City will soon starts...under MR regime after 17 August

citizen a Saturday, 27 June 2015 01:28 PM

Well hope you will be able to make it to diyawannawa.

Sikuru Saturday, 27 June 2015 01:25 PM

SL is the miracle of Asia with rape and suicide high and ppl miraculously getting cured after being released from prison

gayan Saturday, 27 June 2015 12:42 PM

Why now?

Premalal Saturday, 27 June 2015 11:17 AM

This is definitely a leap into the unknown. We have to brace ourselves and hope for the best. Not the ideal because any costs will be for the future generations to pay. This unfortunately is how our enlightened politicians work.

Hiran Gunawardena Saturday, 27 June 2015 11:23 AM

Yeah election round the corner as well. We here lot about development projects lately. via DM Android App

Aruna Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:38 AM

MR has turnaround the war affected stagnated economy to the path of miracle of Asia. Had MR was in power for the past 5 months, toady we could have stood in strong position with the pace of development at the time he lost.

kan Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:31 AM

In that case, you will be responsible for any disasters happens in down south and west coast which I am 1000% sure is going to happen if port city project is carried forward.

Prem Nath Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:18 AM

Let India look after its own affairs first.Did they bother to consult Sri Lanka,when there was so much hype about the dredging of the Sethu area to make it deep water for shipping to by pass Sri Lanka.

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Port city project to start soon: Arjuna

Comments - 30

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