Minister fired over his criticism of China port

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s president fired his justice minister on Wednesday for his criticism of the government, including a decision to sell majority share sofa sea port to China.

President Maithripala Sirisena approved a request made by his United National Party to dismiss Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, the president’s office said.

The party accused Rajapakse of breaching the collective responsibility of the Cabinet by criticising the port deal as well as other government policies and some of his colleagues.

The party said it asked Rajapakse last week to correct his statements by August 21, but he failed to so and continued to criticise ministers and policies.

Sri Lanka’s government last month signed a long-delayed agreement to sella 70% stake in a $1.5 billion port to China for 99 years in a bid to recover from the heavy burden of repaying a Chinese loan obtained to build the facility. The agreement has drawn public criticism and protests, with opposition parties and farmers saying it was akin to a sellout of the country.

Raj a pa ks eal so called the lease a sellout and said he would ensure that the port is taken back for the benefit of Sri Lankans.

The port is part of Beijing’s so-called string-of-pearls plan for a line of ports stretching from its waters to the Persian Gulf.

China’ s influence in Sri Lank a makes neighbouring India anxious because it considers the Indian Ocean region to be its strategic backyard.