Sale of public assets a constitutional violation - NJC

COLOMBO (News1st): Attempts to give away public assets without the consent of the country's citizens is a violation of the constitution, the National Joint Committee has said. In a statement, the committee expressed dismay over moves to lease out the Colombo Port's East Container Terminal. It pointed out that it is the responsibility of all citizens in the country to protect public property under Section 28D of the constitution. The notes that the Indian company has expressed interest in the Colombo Port with a clear motive of depriving Sri Lanka a chance of consolidating its position as a transhipment hub. The National Joint Committee pointed out that the Indian company cannot be trusted to work for the betterment of the Colombo Port, due to its existing involvement in development activities taking place in South Asian ports including the Vizhinjam port in Kerala. It insisted that a joint agreement inked between Japan, India, and Sri Lanka under the previous government for the development of the East Container Terminal is not valid anymore, as Japan has withdrawn from the pact. Accordingly, the committee stressed that there is no basis to support the argument that the development of the East Container Terminal must take place with the support of the Indian company in line with the agreement.