News
Cabraal: Prez appoints members to Port City Economic Commission
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta
The President of the country would always appoint members to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, entrusted with running of that city under the proposed CPCEC Bill, State Minister of Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, yesterday, told the media, in Colombo.
State Minister Cabraal said that most critics of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill had not even read it.
“Sri Lankans don’t need to obtain a visa to enter the Port City as some claim. The Port City will be administered by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and the Bill we have presented details how the area will be governed,” Cabraal said responding to a question posed by a journalist.
The State Minister said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had asked him to counter the misinformation and fake news that was being spread about the Bill. Once people have read and understood the Bill, most who criticise it would have to change their tune, the Minister said.
Journalists also questioned the State Minister on the allegations levelled by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse. The State Minister said that Rajapakse had not even asked a question about the Bill during the Parliamentary Group meetings.
“As I said earlier, the Port City will be administered by Colombo Port City Economic Commission. All members are appointed by the President. The Chairman of the Commission too is appointed by the President. The President can get rid of them anytime he wants,” Cabraal said.
The State Minister added that no one would be allowed to withdraw money or assets from Sri Lanka and invest in the Port City. “This is a special economic zone. We need to attract foreign direct investments. We need to have ease of doing business in this zone and we have to make it an important financial hub in the region.”
The Vasavilan–Palaly Road, which remained closed for 34 years due to the war and security concerns, was recently reopened to the public. This long-awaited reopening follows continuous appeals from residents of the region who have long sought access to the road for personal and economic reasons. This road goes through a designated high-security zone and several military establishments.
People using the recently reopened road (pictures courtesy Jaffna SF hq)
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayaka recently rapped senior officials in institutions under his purview for failing to achieve government objectives. He claimed that only one or two percent of the decisions taken at institutions coming under him were implemented. The minister declared that the government could not continue with those inefficient top officials.
(pic courtesy Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation ministry)
SLNS Samudura on 27 Apr 25 set sail from the Port of Colombo to Changi, Singapore to join the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2025, Asia Pacific’s leading naval and maritime defence event.
The vessel was ceremoniously sent off from Colombo, following traditional naval customs.
IMDEX Asia 2025 is set to take place from 05 to 08 May 25 featuring cutting-edge advancements in naval technology and the event will conclude with a special warship display.
The 9th International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) will take place alongside the exhibition, featuring high-level discussions on evolving maritime security challenges in an era of geopolitical uncertainties.
Naval forces and maritime representatives from multiple nations are set to take part in the upcoming IMDEX Asia 2025 and IMSC. Taking part in this nature of naval and maritime defence events would open new avenues to the Sri Lanka Navy to build inter-operability with regional and extra-regional partners, exchange best practices and procedures in maritime operations and identify new challenges in maritime domain.
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