Chinese dredging tank did not violate law, claims Rambukwella

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The CID and the Army had conducted an investigation to determine whether some Chinese nationals working at a tank renovation site in Tissamaharama had violated the law due to the uniform they were wearing and found that the workers were wearing overalls, co-Cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya  Rambukwelle said.

“The investigators found that the Chinese nationals had not violated any law. They have used ‘overalls’. There are actually several institutions in Colombo where labourers wear similar overalls,” the Minister said.

He also denied allegations that the Chinese nationals at the work site belonged to the Chinese military.

When questioned by a journalist whether Sri Lankans, too, could wear similar costumes and move about; the Minister said that certain organisations that issued uniforms to staff needed to get approval for the design of the clothing and there would be no issue if such approval had been taken.  

Minister Rambukwelle also denied allegations that the renovation of the tank was being carried out in violation of the Antiquities Ordinance. He said that if there had been any violations, civil society groups would have already gone to court.

“Apart from a small group of politically motivated people, others haven’t made this accusation,” he said.