News
Japan regrets scrapping of ECT deal
Japanese Amb. meets Dinesh
Japan has expressed regret after Sri Lanka scrapped the 2019 deal with New Delhi and Tokyo for the development of the Colombo port’s East Container Terminal.
A Japanese Embassy official in Delhi responding to Indian news agency WION’, “expressed regret at the unilateral decision taken by Sri Lanka”.
The Sri Lankan cabinet on Monday unanimously approved that the East Terminal of the port will be developed solely by the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA).
WION report:
“Meanwhile in the aftermath of the development, Japan envoy to Colombo Akira Sugiyama met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Wednesday to discuss a “range of matters relevant to the bilateral partnership between Sri Lanka and Japan”, a tweet from Sri Lankan MFA said.
Earlier over the weekend, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assured protesting local worker’s trade union that the terminal will not be sold or leased to any foreign entity.
In a tweet, he said, that the Lankan Ports Authority will maintain control of the ECT and the Sri Lankan govt “adheres strictly to its policy of retaining assets belonging to the govt”.
In 2019, India, Japan and Sri Lanka signed a trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation for development of the terminal under the former Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe govt.
Under the trilateral arrangement, a Sri Lankan govt PSU – Sri Lankan Port Authority will hold majority share with the remaining share being held between Japanese and Indian entities.
While India is yet to react on Colombo’s decision, ahead of the announcement by Sri Lankan Govt, a spokesperson of the Indian High Commission in Colombo “reiterated the expectation of Government of India for expeditious implementation of the trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC)” signed in May 2019
Pointing out to the “commitment of Government of Sri Lanka in this regard has been conveyed several times in the recent past, including at the leadership level… All sides should continue to abide by the existing understandings and commitment.”
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government, perhaps as a compensatory offer has said it would involve India and Japan for development of Colombo port’s West Container terminal.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint R. A. Chandana Saman Ranaweera Arachchi a special grade officer of Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) as the Commissioner
General of Lands.
Approval was granted at the cabinet meeting held on 05-08-2024 to resettle the unauthorized residents in the railway reserve from the Maligawatte Loco junction to Padukka railway station under the Colombo Suburban Railway Project.
Accordingly, resettlements in 694 housing units which were purchased from housing complexes owned by the Urban Development Authority have already been completed and further, 144 housing units are due
to be received from the Urban development Authority. In addition, a housing complex consisting of 120 housing units is being constructed on land in Kottawa, Malapalla area which is owned by the Railway Department for the resettlement of unauthorized residents in Maharagama, Homagama, Padukka area where there are no housing
schemes of the Urban Development Authority, and the constructions of that housing scheme is being completed at present.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port, and Civil Aviation to transfer the land located in Kottawa, Marapalla, belonging to the Sri Lanka Railway Department, and the housing complex within the said land to the National Housing Development Authority as a free grant in terms of the provisions of Section 6(1) of the Government Land Ordinance and to implement the said program of providing the relevant deeds to the selected beneficiaries in such a way as not to burden them financially.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Dr. Mrs. E. R. S. P. Edirimanne serving as a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Agriculture Service in the post of Additional Secretary (Agri Technology) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation as the Commissioner General of Agriculture,
R A Chandana Saman Ranaweera Arachchi appointed as Commissioner General of Lands
Resettlement of unauthorized residents in Kelaniveli Railway Reserves
Dr. Mrs. E. R. S. P. Edirimanne appointed Commissioner General of Agriculture
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