H’tota Port deal a violation of the Constitution: JO

28 March 2017 09:22 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The joint opposition (JO) said today the Hambantota Port agreement was unethical, beneficial to China and violates the Constitution.

It said the China Merchants Port Holdings, which would receive 80 per cent of the shares would be in a position to decide which ship enters the port and which ship should not.

“Only the government has the right to make such decisions. Allowing a private company to take these decisions affects the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka,” former UPFA MP G.L. Peiris told the weekly news briefing.

He said the 80 per cent would later increase on the basis of the clauses included in the agreement and added that 500 acres of land belonging to the Port had been given to the company on a Rs.12,000 million lease for 99 years and said it was far below the standard value.

Mr. Peiris said the government which described the port as a white elephant and a swimming pool, initially said the income from the sale would be used to settle the loans but today it had deviated from that objective.

“The Central Bank Governor says it’s crucial to sell the port but does not mention anything about settling the loans obtained to construct the Port,” he said adding that there was no point in continuing the blame game and that the President should take the responsibility of any downfall resulting in going ahead with the port deal.

Meanwhile, MP Bandula Gunawardane said the government was hoping to receive US$400 million from the port sale but it had already wasted US$4,300 million by releasing dollars to the market to artificially maintain the rupee value against the US dollar.

“It is not SLFP policy to alienate state properties. It was former premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who nationalized the Colombo Port. Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa created a port at a strategic location for the benefit of people and it should not be privatized,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 10

Dee Tuesday, 28 March 2017 10:28 PM

Oh! You still around?

Manel Wednesday, 29 March 2017 03:26 AM

How many violations like the passing of 18th amendment for MR (maha raja) to perpetually stay in power were committed by your despotic government.

Mark Wednesday, 29 March 2017 04:00 AM

NO sense just obstructing progress for the sake of headlines. The definition of the so called JO.

Leo Wednesday, 29 March 2017 06:15 AM

Ok prof. mud slung you can now collect your cheque from MR. via DM Android App

R.Sunthar Wednesday, 29 March 2017 07:02 AM

Country listened to the erudite Don ,now it is the partisan views of an estranged politician.

Mahila Wednesday, 29 March 2017 07:45 AM

Cat is out of the bag. when people say falsehoods, they must structurally and chronologically remember what and what they did and say before.

Kaboos Wednesday, 29 March 2017 08:23 AM

When you fallen into the well obviously you have to come out form the same well mouth.

wijebahu Wednesday, 29 March 2017 09:23 AM

this somby professor wants to keep a white elephant and funded by public to keep his bosses name alive. there were many violations of constiution during his bosses period just for personnel gains and this moranic professor was deaf and blind at that time.

ceylon Wednesday, 29 March 2017 11:17 AM

if you law expert then go to court and stop it.dont make empty lies. via DM Android App

Shelly. Wednesday, 29 March 2017 06:32 PM

But GL could not sustain any of cases he handled behalf of UNP. His opeinions are very poor in legal matters including constitution. via DM Android App

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H’tota Port deal a violation of the Constitution: JO

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