CABINET NOD FOR ECT DEVELOPMENT WITH FULL STAKE FOR SLPA

• WTC to be developed with India

BY KELUM BANDARA

The Cabinet decided last evening to develop the East Container Terminal of Colombo Port fully under the control of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, but the West Container Terminal with a private investor as pledged in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ manifesto, a top source said .

The Cabinet discussed the trade union crisis triggered by the move to develop the ECT with an Indian company. However, the ECT will be developed by the SLPA in three stages within three years. The source said the WTC would be developed in partnership with India under a business model similar to the one signed with the Chinese company for the development of Colombo International Container Terminal.