JVP accuses govt of sticking to yahapalana deal with India and handing over ECT to Adani Group

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP yesterday accused the government of planning to hand over the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal to Adani Group of India despite protests.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the government had run out of excuses as there were widespread protests against the move to hand over the ECT to the Indian company. “So, now they twist words when they answer questions on the issue. The Prime Minister in Parliament the other day said the government had not decided to sell the ECT to any foreign entity. Several minutes later, the Ports Minister told Parliament that the government intended to bring in investors to develop the ECT. The Cabinet has approved a proposal to grant 49 percent of shares and management of the ECT to the Adani Group. The Ports Minister’s use of words is to bring in investors.

Silva said that the plans to sell off the ECT were prepared by the Yahapalana government. “There was a massive protest by port’s employees against those plans. Mahinda Rajapaksa then promised to protesting workers that national assets would not be sold under an SLPP government and asked the workers to vote for them.

People should understand that though they defeated Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP that sold state assets to foreigners, the current government was continuing what its predecessor had done.

“The port workers are now engaged in a campaign to save the ECT. The government declared the port an essential service. We ask the government why it is trying to sell it off to India if it is an essential service.