Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has promised the Port Trade Unions that the Eastern Terminal of the Colombo port will not be sold or leased out to any outside party and it will be totally held by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority..
Ports Authority sources said that a Cabinet Memorandum to this effect would be submitted today. However Ports Unions said that their Trade Union action will continue until an official statement is made by the government.
Several Ministers also expressed their reservations over the government’s decision to hand over a 49percent stake of the Eastern container Terminal to India.
Colombo Port Engineers meanwhile pointed out that they could develop the ECT to make it a viable venture.
