By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday demanded to know from the government how it expected the Colombo Port City project to be a success because it would antagonise the regional super power, India.

 Kiriella was a powerful Minister in the previous government that decided to resume the Colombo Port City project after halting it soon after coming to power in January 2015.

 Kiriella said: “Law is one thing. The Supreme Court may give a ruling that the project is legal and the Draft Bill by the government to set up a commission to control the Port City area is constitutional, but the realities of geopolitics is something else. The court cannot decide on that matter. I ask whether the government had paid its attention to the regional political issues when it thought about the feasibility and viability of the Port City project. Do you think that you could be successful after antagonising India by implementing this project?”

The governments since Independence had dealt with other countries and entered into various agreements but none of the former governments allowed foreign powers to come and stay in this country, Kiriella said.

“We only obtained loans and grants and made transactions but not allowed them to stay here. Now, this government has gone beyond that policy and is planning to allow China to stay here.

How do you hope India will react?”

 MP Kiriella called on the government to amend its Draft Bill to enable Parliament to have financial controlling powers in the Port City area. “You should incorporate sections into the Draft Bill preventing money laundering and terrorist funding. Even the US Ambassador has stated that this would be a safe haven for the money launderers. Their fears are reasonable.”

 He said that the Commission controlling the Port City area should be made answerable to Parliament so that it could be summoned before the COPE and COPA. “There have been many Auditor Generals but it was thanks to COPE and COPA that the bond scam and sugar scam could be exposed. We cannot give up the Port City project but we should turn that project into the benefit of our country. As per the provisions in the Draft Bill as it is now, Parliament does not have control over the Commission. It could not be summoned before the COPE and COPA. Rectify these errors and make the project a viable one.”