November 18, 2020: Recently, the Minister Sarath Weersekera clarified the present Government’s position about a rumour regarding the future of ECT which is being given prominence in social media criticising the President and the cabinet.
He said that the Memorandum of Corporation was signed by Yahaplanaya government with India and Japan in 2019 when Sagala Ratanayake was the minister in charge of ports. The origin of the present issue of the 49% of the ownership of the ECT with India and Japan and the management of the ECT to be handed over to a well known Indian company can be traced to the MOC signed by the previous government in 2019. Minister Weerasekera in his clarification also discusses the mishandling and the mismanagement of the ECT project by the previous government which caused the delays of completing the ECT.
The Minister explains the difficulties involved in changing the conditions in the MOC which had been signed and clearly states that the present government does not see eye to eye with the agreement and is considering to change some aspects which are disadvantageous to the country. He also mentions the fact that the President was forthright in conveying to US Secretary of State when he was in Sri Lanka that the country will never accept agreements which are inimical to the interest of the country with special reference to the MCC.
The Sri Lankans who voted the President and the present Government are confident that the President and the decision makers such as the Minister Sarath Weeraskera will do their best to protect the sovereignty and the independence of the country.
Source: LANKAWEB
