Deputy Minister pledges solutions to Ports Authority, ECT issues

Colombo, Feb 19 (Daily Mirror) - Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku pledged to provide prompt solutions to issues concerning the administration of the Ports Authority and to establish a committee comprising all relevant parties to address matters related to the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, Joint Alliance of Port Trade Unions (JAPTU) Co-convener Udeni Kaluthantri said.

He made this remark during a discussion at the Ports Ministry between representatives of JAPTU and Deputy Minister Kodituwakku.  

The Deputy Minister assured that he will review the current challenges related to the Colombo Port Eastern Terminal and its access road. Kaluthantri noted that the way the Deputy Minister engaged with trade unions and responded to their concerns was highly satisfactory, emphasising his ability to handle administrative issues effectively.  

During the discussion, Kaluthantri alleged that the administration, including the current Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, had misled the authorities - including the Ports Minister, Deputy Minister, and Ports Chairman - deliberately delaying the construction of the Eastern Container Terminal.  

He further informed the Deputy Minister that the delay in the ECT construction was due to the current administration altering the integrated plan and road layout, which would result in significant additional costs and potential future complications. He asserted that claims made to the President and the Minister suggesting that the terminal could be opened by July were misleading.  

"The Deputy Minister was informed that completing the construction of the Eastern Terminal and its access road would require at least another 16 months. Therefore, immediate steps should be taken if the construction is to be expedited," he said.  

Kaluthantri also highlighted that the productivity of various divisions had declined due to arbitrary transfers of senior officers, particularly in critical sections of the Ports Authority. He added that the Department of Management Services had requested the removal of the Managing Director position - established as the most senior permanent post since 1979 - from the list of permanent roles without informing the relevant authorities. Consequently, he urged the Deputy Minister to conduct an investigation into this matter.  

Furthermore, the Deputy Minister was informed that the tender for procuring Straddle Carriers - essential equipment for the Eastern Container Terminal - had been cancelled by the current administration. Re-tendering would take approximately six months, with an additional ten months required for manufacturing.  

Given the current situation, Kaluthantri concluded that it would take approximately one and a half years to complete and operationalise the Eastern Container Terminal of the Colombo Port, the Deputy Minister added.