Lanka to set up panel to probe Chinese port city project
19 Feb 2015 12:36 AM GMT
Pointing that several environmental organisations have raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the panel would look at all complaints and report to the Cabinet sub-committee.
Wickremesinghe said his government would take action if there are conditions detrimental to national interest. On February 6, the government had said that it was yet to take a final call on the project, a day after it said that the controversial venture would go ahead as planned.
Wickremesinghe, however, clarified that the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena has not decided to abandon the project. “We will consider the issue of our relations with China. We do not want to jeopardise our relations with China,” he said.
The port, expected to play a key role for China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Road project in India’s backyard, is being seen as the single largest private sector development ever in the island.
The project, would allow China Communication Construction Co Ltd, a Chinese government-owned infrastructure builder, to hold land in a high-security zone within close proximity to the Colombo port.
Wickremesinghe said his government would take action if there are conditions detrimental to national interest. On February 6, the government had said that it was yet to take a final call on the project, a day after it said that the controversial venture would go ahead as planned.
Wickremesinghe, however, clarified that the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena has not decided to abandon the project. “We will consider the issue of our relations with China. We do not want to jeopardise our relations with China,” he said.
The port, expected to play a key role for China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Road project in India’s backyard, is being seen as the single largest private sector development ever in the island.
The project, would allow China Communication Construction Co Ltd, a Chinese government-owned infrastructure builder, to hold land in a high-security zone within close proximity to the Colombo port.
Next Story
