4 February 2021 07:19 am
Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay who called on the President and the Prime Minister separately on Tuesday, conveyed his government’s displeasure on the manner in which Sri Lanka reneged from its commitment in keeping with the 2019 Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to develop the East Container Terminal of Colombo Port jointly with India, informed sources said.
He met with the Sri Lankan leaders on the day after the Cabinet decided to develop it under Sri Lanka Ports Authority without any equity sharing arrangement with India. The Government took this decision following widespread protest by the trade unions across the country and the Buddhist clergy.
The MOU was signed in 2019 under the former government to develop it, involving Japan and India. Sri Lanka has now offered to develop the West Container Terminal with India. However, the Indian side is yet to respond in this regard.(Kelum Bandara)