JVP criticises selling off of SLPA owned assets
During the terms of consecutive governments in the last 15-20 years, a large number of assets owned by the Ports Authority have been sold off, the JVP alleges.
Speaking at a media briefing today (02) JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake says that although 08 jetties and main companies functioned under the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in the recent past, only the Jaya Container Terminal remains under the SLPA at the present.
The jetties sold off are now securing massive profits, he said.
He also charged that the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port was sold off to India and Japan under the influence of India.
"We learn that when the Modi-led BJP was heading towards an election, Indian authorities have informed officials of the Sri Lankan High Commission in India to sign the documents to handover the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port to India and Japan," he said.
"In a backdrop where the entire country is still in shock after the Easter Sunday bombings and racism and extremism is running rampant, the Maithri-Ranil government is selling off national assets at a rock-bottom price," he added.
He had further said :
"As the Rajapaksas gave away the Southern port to China as a tribute, India had a political need to obtain this terminal and they requested for it."
"In 2016, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had announced the intention to sell the terminal even though Port trade unions emphasised they could work to develop the terminal without it being sold. However, the deed was done when the results of the Indian election was coming in. The economic loss of this act is immense and it also puts jobs of around 10,000 employees at risk."
"Also, it is a betrayal of the country's economic freedom. The US, China and India are breaking off pieces after terrifying the government," he added.
"This style of tribute politics won't end. Another tribute will have to be paid to escape one tribute. From 2010, we were forced to pay tributes to China and India to build ports, airports, power plants and railway lines."
"In this backdrop, we urge ports employees to come forward to defeat the signed agreement and to reinstate the terminal under the SLPA."
"As the JVP, we are ready to take measures after discussing this with trade unions and multinational organizations. We invite all masses to come forward to defeat the attempt of world powers to take over the assets of the country at a time when our nation is facing a crisis."