Harsha calls for AG’s report on Port City contracts with private parties

Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF), SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, has called for the opinion of the Attorney General within four weeks concerning the contracts made by ten business companies currently active in the Colombo Port City, parliament sources said on Thursday.

Following an inquiry conducted last week by the COPF, it was revealed that there are ten business companies operating within the Colombo Port City, and concerns have arisen regarding the manner in which these companies entered into contracts. These contracts were found to have been made at various stages: before the completion of the port city, during its completion, and after its completion, according to sources.

Dr. de Silva, as the COPF chairman, emphasized that these agreements were entered into without due regard for the legal provisions governing such contracts. As a result, he recommended seeking the opinion of the Attorney General within the next four weeks, with an obligation to keep the Committee informed of the Attorney General’s findings.He also highlighted the significance of investigating the constructions carried out by these companies within the Port City area.

Additionally, the COPF’s attention was drawn to the permission granted by the Port City Commission for two crypto-currency exchanges to operate within the Colombo Port City. In response, the COPF recommended conducting an inquiry on this matter through the Central Bank and seeking the bank’s opinion.

At the meeting, the orders issued under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021, as published in the Gazette Notice Notification 2339/31, were approved by the COPF.

State Minister Dr. Suren Raghavan, MPs Chandima Weerakkody, Nimal Lanza, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Duminda Dissanayake, and U. K. Sumith Udukumbura were present at the meeting, parliament sources said.