Wijeyadasa reiterates opposition to Port City Bill after receiving call from Prez

Sarath Weerasekera, Shehan Semasinghe reject accusations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, yesterday (16) reiterated his stand against the proposed Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill.

Addressing the media at his residence, at Wijayaba Mawatha, Nawala, the former Justice Minister said that following reports on his statement issued at Abayaramaya on Thursday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had reacted angrily in a telephone call received by him Friday morning.

President Rajapaksa recently presented the Colombo Port City EC Bill to the Cabinet of ministers. The 76-page Bill provides for the establishment of an EC authorised to grant registrations, licences, authorisations, and other approvals to carry on businesses and other activities in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be established within the Colombo Port City.

MP Rajapakse said that he never expected the President to react so angrily. The former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said that he raised the issue at hand publicly as it was not taken up by the government parliamentary group.

However, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (ret.) Sarath Weerasekera told the media yesterday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wouldn’t take a wrong decision. Minister Weerasekera assured their support to the President. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe, too, strongly defended the proposed Bill. Anuradhapura District MP Semasinghe emphasized that there was absolutely no basis for accusations that the proposed Bill would transform the newly reclaimed land adjacent to the Galle Face Green to a Chinese territory.

Lawmaker Rajapakse told the media that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa talked to him badly. The former Minister said that he never expected the President Rajapaksa to get so angry as he was only performing his duties and responsibilities as a member of parliament.

Responding to a query, the MP stressed that he never hesitated to take a decision under difficult circumstances. Whatever happens, the MP said that he would protect the public faith in him. The former Minister said that those who voted for the proposed Bill would receive the wrath of the people.

Lawmaker Rajapakse said that as many as 16 moved the Supreme Court against the proposed Bill. Among those were Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda thera, UNP, the JVP, Center for Policy Alternatives and Purawesibalaya.