24 November 2020 04:38 pm
The Gotabaya Rajapaksa government that came to power promising not to sell state property has approved a Cabinet Paper to sell the Eastern Jetty of the Colombo Port to an Indian Company, which is recorded as the first task undertaken by the President following the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today.
JVP politburo member Lal Kantha told a news conference that the 20A was passed in Parliament on October 22 and the Cabinet Paper to sell the Eastern Jetty of the Colombo Port to an Indian Company was presented in Cabinet on the same day.
“That Cabinet Paper was approved on November 9. President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa claimed that he wanted more power to serve people and as his first task after passing the 20A, the Cabinet Paper to sell the Eastern Jetty of the Colombo Port was presented in the Cabinet,” he said.
It was reported that 49 per cent of shares would be given to the Indian Company while the Ports Authority would retain the other 51 per cent, Mr. Lal Kantha said. “However, According to reports of the Indian High Commissioner, they are requesting more than 49 per cent of shares. We will see what happens,’ he said.
He urged all port trade unions not to withdraw from the fight to safeguard the Colombo port and urged them to rally together and face the struggle. (Ajith Siriwardana)