Special US economic corridor from Trinco to Colombo: Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said the government was making arrangements to allow the US to operate a special economic corridor stretching from Trincomalee to Colombo.

For this purpose, he said the US Government has released US$480 million to Sri Lanka.

“Minister Mangala Samaraweera says that Sri Lanka received US$480 million from the US. This amount was not given for free. There are strings attached to it. This money has been given to create a 200-km long special economic corridor stretching from Trincomalee Port to Colombo Port which spreads over 1,200,000 acres of land,” he said speaking at the Joint May Day celebration held at Kotte Municipal Council Hall.

In order to prevent protests and opposition from the people when claiming lands for the special corridor, he said the government requires the Counter Terrorism Act (CTA).

“This is why the government needs the CTA to curb peoples’ protests. Within the special corridor, private sector employees would be required to work long hours. Therefore, the Prime Minister is changing laws to enable people to work for 12 hours a day. They will only be entitled to Poya Holiday each month. Foreign employers will exploit the local employees,” he said.

He said Sri Lanka should fight against losing the country. “This is the national fight we have to wage. If we lose in this struggle, there will be no country to fight for our basic rights or rights of the trade unions,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

Video by Sanjeewa