Trade unions continue protest over East Container Terminal

COLOMBO (News1st): Trade unions continued their protest for the second day citing delays developing the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port. The setting-up of three cranes procured for the development of the ECT has been delayed to sell off the port to India, the Port Joint Trade Union said. Discussions between ports minister Johnston Fernando and trade unions proved futile. "Don't we have leaders with a backbone in this country? Tell the Indians not to tamper with our sovereignty," Tharanga Jayasinghe, the President of the Port Finance Division Independent Employees Union said. Unions are expected to meet with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening. "The gantry cranes were not purchased by our government. They were purchased by the previous government without doing a proper analysis," Bandula Gunawardena, a cabinet spokesman said. He added that the subject minister will issue a clarification in this regard in due course.