Opposition: Is Port City a separate state?

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella says that the Port City is going to be an area resembling a federal state outside Parliament’s monetary supervision.

Kiriella addressing the media in Colombo on Saturday said that 25 Acts passed by Parliament would not apply to the Port City, making it a separate state.

“As per the provisions in the draft bill titled Colombo Port City Commission Bill recently presented to Parliament, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Monetary Board and the Ministry of Finance, which control the public finances, are not on the board of directors of the Port City, meaning that the government has granted discretionary powers to the Port City management.”

Kirielle said several key legislative enactments including but not limited to the Urban Development Authority Act, No. 41 of 1978, the Municipal Council Ordinance (Chapter 252), and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law No. 4 of 1978 were not applicable to the Port City.

The MP said that his party would seek a parliamentary debate on the issue, and more information would be revealed.