23 January 2021 12:00 am
Only sought to lease it out to a Terminal Operating Company
By Yohan Perera
While asserting that the UNP-led government in 2019 did not enter into any agreement to sell off the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, the UNP said in a statement that a Memorandum of Corporation (MoC) was signed among the Sri Lankan, Indian and Japanese Governments only to lease it out to a Terminal Operating Company.
She inspected the project with the Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Dr. Sewwandi Jayakodi and several senior officials of the ministry. Dr. Jasinghe said the project was intended to prevent the on-going destruction of mangroves and to conserve them. The High Commissioner said the British High Commission had extended its cooperation to the project.
Ministry officials said they were planning to establish a World Mangrove Conservation Centre in Wanathavilluwa area.
The project is implemented with the help of the Puttalam District Forest Conservation Office, several other government institutions and NGOs. Officials pointed out that the tanks that caused extensive damage to the mangroves would be used for the project.