Nishantha urges govt to summon all-party conference to make Port City a success

The government should call for an all-party conference on the Colombo Port City Commission so that it could be made a successful project, says former Western Provincial Councilor Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe.

“We are not against the Port City project turning out to be the zone that helps this country become the economic hub of the region. Our fears are that this area could be used for the promotion of a black economy,” he told The Island.

Warnasinghe said that there were reasons to believe that the government might move ahead promoting the Port City area for cheap gains by allowing money laundering, night clubs and gambling there. “See the statements made by the members of the government ranks. Diana Gamage who recently switched alliances and is now with the government is talking of promoting a night life economy and to legalise prostitution. None within the government ranks has stopped her talking of the need to create red light districts to promote the economy. Then there are MPs like Arundika Fernando asking for the legalizing of moonshine. Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa is promoting smoking of cinnamon cigarettes. With these indications we have fears that the Colombo Port City area would be made use of for the nefarious activities to earn a fast buck by the government,” he said.

He said that Presidents including the incumbent one might come and go, but the people of this country would have to live with the consequences of projects such as the Colombo Port City. “We know that the area reclaimed to become the Colombo Port City should not be used to cultivate banana or used as an esplanade for kids to come and fly kites. It should be used to its fullest potential so that the country’s economy would be benefited. For that purpose the government should speak and listen to all without being adamant so that there would be no regrets in the future,” Warnasinghe said.