Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the government is focusing on taking back the Hambantota port which was sold to China by the previous 'Yahapalana' government.
"We have to pay a heavy price as compensation. As such, the government is looking at what could be done in this regard," he said.
Minister Ranatunga expressed these views while attending an event in Minuwangoda held to mark the 4th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
He also said that he was against the sale of the eastern container terminal of the Colombo Port, adding that it was against their government's policy to sell national resources.
He also stressed that bringing foreign investment into the country should not be viewed as an act of selling national resources.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga stated that the government is not ready to betray the mandate that was given to them at the last presidential and parliamentary elections. He also assured that no decision would be taken by the President, the Prime Minister or the government that would harm that mandate.
Speaking further, the Minister said,
"Many people are screaming about the ECT today. We will never allow national resources to be sold. I am against it too.
The President said in a statement that he would not allow that. The President, the Prime Minister and this government are not ready to sell national resources. Our policy is to protect national resources, not to sell them.
Therefore, we will not allow the ECT to be sold. But we will bring foreign investments into the country. But that doesn't imply that we will sell the ECT.
The previous administration sold the Hambantota port. We are working on revisiting the agreement to take it back. We will have to pay a heavy price. As such, the government has focused on measures that needs to be taken in this regard.
The President said in a statement that he would not allow that. The President, the Prime Minister and this government are not ready to sell national resources. Our policy is to protect national resources, not to sell them.
Therefore, we will not allow the ECT to be sold. But we will bring foreign investments into the country. But that doesn't imply that we will sell the ECT.
The previous administration sold the Hambantota port. We are working on revisiting the agreement to take it back. We will have to pay a heavy price. As such, the government has focused on measures that needs to be taken in this regard.
We have a people-centric approach to governance. Therefore, don't be deceived by the false propaganda spewed by the opposition.
We will never betray the mandate given to us in the 2019 presidential election and the 2020 general election. We will endeavour to protect the trust that the people have placed in us."
India and Japan have an opportunity to invest - Nimal Lanza
State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure Development, Nimal Lanza affirmed that the Colombo Port Eastern Container Terminal will not be sold or handed over to anyone but the government would consider positively on investments coming from India, Japan or any other country. He also said that there is an opportunity for a Sri Lankan to invest.
He made these comments at a function organised by the SLPP's Wattala electorate Youth Front which was held the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium yesterday (24).
"The opposition is making unfounded allegations regarding the development of the ECT. The opposition during the 'good governance' government tried to give a 85 percent stake to India. However, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has clearly stated that the ECT will not be leased out or sold. Only an investment opportunity exists," he said.
He made these comments at a function organised by the SLPP's Wattala electorate Youth Front which was held the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium yesterday (24).
"The opposition is making unfounded allegations regarding the development of the ECT. The opposition during the 'good governance' government tried to give a 85 percent stake to India. However, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has clearly stated that the ECT will not be leased out or sold. Only an investment opportunity exists," he said.
