(Lanka-e-News -07.Jan.2017, 8.00AM) ‘We are commencing the Hambantota development program on the 7 th . If anybody wants to sabotage that , he/she can come and try’. While Dilip Wedaraachi a State minister representing Hambantota was throwing this challenge at saboteurs , Minister Rajitha Senaratne , the minister of fisheries and cabinet spokesman too announced that the preliminary agreement pertaining to the Hambantota Port development is being signed today (07) . After the agreement is prepared ,the approval of the cabinet and Parliament shall be obtained . Thereafter the agreement will be signed , the cabinet spokesman revealed.
Meanwhile a discussion was held between prime minister (P.M.) Ranil Wickremesinghe and former speaker Chamal Rajapakse yesterday (06) before the Hanbantota Sangha Nayakes . The P.M. gave answers to the questions raised by Chamal before the Sangha Nayakes. The P.M. made it abundantly clear the story that 15 000 acres of land of Hambantota are going to be acquired is an absolute lie. It is only 1200 acres of land of Hambantota district will be utilized for this project , and that has already been identified as waste lands of the government . Besides there are no private lands belonging to individuals or of archeological value coming within that area, the P.M. explained.
It is a well and widely known fact that it is Ports minister Arjuna Ranatunge and Ports chairman Dhammika Ranatunge his brother who are inciting the ports employees to stage protests. By organizing meetings at various divisions of the Port and incited the employees were incited by saying , like how the port trade unions united to chase Arjuna out , now they must all unite to agitate to ensure that the Hambantota Port is not handed over to the Chinese.
Arjuna has also told them they must join with those of the Joint opposition . The agreement for the management of the Hambantota port with the Chinese Co. must be signed by the Ports authority .It is learnt that Arjuna as minister and his brother have demanded Rs. 300 million as kickback in this connection. Ranatunges have also demanded that out of that sum , Rs. 200 million shall be received by them in dollars.
It is unfortunate Arjuna and his brother could not succeed in their sordid moves and motives aimed at lining their pockets because the committee appointed by the Cabinet was entrusted to carry out the responsibilities. Naturally after having failed in their favorite ‘game’ the duo is determined to sabotage this agreement.
The committees of the main trade unions of the Port –the SLFP committee , UNP committee and ‘the independent’ committee have expressed their consent . Their view is, by trying to rescue the crumbling debt ridden Hambantota Port out of funds of Colombo port the latter is being imperiled. Hence it is best to make China to shoulder the Hambantota burden , and halt Colombo ECT being handed over to a foreign Co. This is the request the trade unions are therefore making.
The trade unions which are staging protest now at Arjuna’s request are only the trade union of the JVP and the trade unions which were created by Arjuna after he became minister.
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by (2017-01-08 01:54:43)
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