Japan regrets Sri Lanka scrapping 2019 deal with New Delhi, Tokyo

• In 2019, India, Japan and Sri Lanka signed a trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation for development of the terminal 

Japan has expressed “regret” after Sri Lanka scrapped 2019 deal with New Delhi and Tokyo for development of Colombo port’s East Container Terminal.   

A Japanese embassy official in Delhi responding to WION’ question, “expressed regret at the unilateral decision taken by Sri Lanka”.   

Sri Lankan Cabinet on Monday unanimously approved that the East terminal of the port will be developed solely by the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA).  Meanwhile in the aftermath of the development Japan envoy to Colombo Akira Sugiyama met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Wednesday to discuss a “range of matters relevant to the bilateral partnership between Sri Lanka and Japan”, a tweet from Sri Lankan MFA said.   

Earlier over the weekend, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assured protesting local worker’s trade union that the terminal will not be sold or leased to any foreign entity.   
In a tweet, he said, that the Lankan Ports Authority will maintain control of the ECT and the Sri Lankan govt “adheres strictly to its policy of retaining assets belonging to the govt”.   
In 2019, India, Japan and Sri Lanka signed a trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation for development of the terminal under the former Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe govt.