TU THREATENS STERN ACTION

Lease of eastern terminal of Colombo Port

The country has gained nothing by leasing the Hambantota Port to China

All Ceylon General Ports Employees Union (ACGPEU) has warned that it would take stern trade union action if the secret process to assign the properties of the ports to the private sector and urge to hold the plans to privatise the ports properties.

In a letter to the Minister of Ports and Shipping the Secretary of ACGPEU has also expressed gratitude of the union to President Maithripala Sirisena for showing his protest to the Cabinet memorandum presented by the Minister of Ports and Shipping seeking the approval for the lease of eastern terminal of the Colombo Port to India and develop it as a project of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

At this Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister and Minister Malik Samarawickrema has supported the Cabinet memorandum and said discussions has already been held to lease the eastern terminal to India, according to the letter sent by the union.

However, the President has

ACGPEU has also expressed gratitude of the union to President Maithripala Sirisena for showing his protest to the Cabinet memorandum

maintained his protest and said that the country has gained nothing by leasing the Hambantota Port to China.

The letter has also stressed the possible adverse effect on the economy of the country that may trigger through the lease of the terminal to foreign private companies.