NFF WANTS DEAL SCRAPPED

H’tota port sale agreement with China

The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday urged the Secretary to the Ports and Shipping Ministry to refrain from signing the agreement to sell the Hambantota Port to a Chinese company which was scheduled to be signed yesterday and warned him that he would be the first person answerable before the FCID when a new government comes to power.

Addressing a media briefing, NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa said the government was on a mission to sell off a valuable national resource to the China Merchants Holdings Company and added that it would directly affect the future generations of the country.

“The Hambantota Port was constructed at a total expense of USD 1,691 million by the former government and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. After the agreement is signed 80 per cent of the port would be owned by the China Merchants Holdings Company and only 20 per cent of it would be owned by Sri Lanka,” he added.

China Merchants Holdings Company had expressed intention to own the Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease by paying USD 1,080 million as a down payment to Sri Lanka

He said China Merchants Holdings Company had expressed intention to own the Hambantota Port on a 99-year-lease by paying USD 1,080 million as a down payment to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, he said the Ports and Shipping Minister, the Ports Authority Chairman and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s Board of Directors were against this move.

“Therefore, the government made their way to move ahead with this agreement with China by presenting a cabinet paper, offering the Secretary to the Ports and Shipping Ministry with the powers to sign the agreement,” he added. He said the country’s economy would also be at risk with this step and added that it would be a competitive threat to the Colombo Harbour.