Apr 15, Colombo: The government is trying to hand over the Colombo Port City to China through the Port City Economic Commission Bill, said MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. He said that certain parts of the bill were unconstitutional and very dangerous.

He said that Ranil Wickremesinghe had given the Hambantota Port by an agreement and handing over the Port City to China through an Act would be more dangerous than the Hambantota port proposal.

Addressing a media briefing held at the Narahenpita Abhayaramaya temple today (15), Mr. Rajapakshe said the Colombo Port City would become a Chinese colony and foreigners can acquire that land and sell it.

Mr. Rajapakshe said he was opposed to the sale of the Hambantota port during the good governance government, adding that one of the consequences of that deal was the utter loss of the UNP.

Speaking further the Member of Parliament said, ““Our country has a map. Our country consists of 25 administrative districts and the watershed around the country. After 1100 acres of that watershed became land through the port city, it is part of the land of our country. According to this Act, the 1,100 acres reclaimed do not belong to Sri Lanka, the Western Province or the Colombo District. Through the bill a commission is going to be set up to regulate that land. The Commission acts in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese company. A number of bills enacted in the country are not applied to the Port City.”

The parliamentarian pointed out that the Special Economic Commission of the Port City has powers to enter into agreements with foreign states as well.

“This land has been released from all 14 tax acts including the Inland Revenue Act. Even Parliament cannot deal with this and its salaries are paid in foreign currency. If we go there and buy something, we have to pay taxes for it. This is completely similar to any other country. That is why we have decided to take legal action against this.”

Commenting at the media briefing, Narahenpita Abhayaramadhipathi Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera said his organization also filed a petition in the Supreme Court today against the Port City Economic Commission Bill.

He said that his organization had filed the 15th petition against the bill.

Ananda Thera said that the Port City would not be included in the map of the Western Province as part of Sri Lanka and that it would become a Chinese colony by preventing the implementation of eight Acts currently in force in the country.