The Joint Opposition (JO) slams govt for selling family silver
Posted on December 17th, 2016
by Maheesha Mudugamuwa Courtesy The Island
The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday slammed the government for handing over a majority of shares of the Hambantota port to a Chinese company and its decision to lease out 15,000 acres in Hambantota to another Chinese company to set up a trade zone without following the proper tender procedure.
Former Cabinet Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told the media at the N. M Perera Centre in Borella that the value of the Hambantota Port and the land to be leased out was far in excess of the government valuation.
The government valuation of the port was only USD 1.1 billion, but its actual value was more than USD 2.5 billion, he stressed.
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The government had not followed proper tender procedure as regards other projects as well and they included highways, Alahapperuma said.
Meanwhile, former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, UPFA MP, asked the government whether it was going to use the full amount of the money received from the Chinese company to settle the loans drawn by the previous government for the construction of the Hambantota Port.
“Now, the government says it is not selling the Hambantota port but giving it on a 99-year lease. That means the port will be controlled by China till 2116,” he said, adding that now it was crystal clear who was trying to turn Sri Lanka into Chinese colony.