Viyathmaga Movement's stance on ECT

COLOMBO (News1st): Members of the Viyath Maga movement - that backed the present government into power - had opposed attempts to sell off the Colombo Port's East Container Terminal to foreign entities under the previous administration. "The East Container Terminal is a major asset to the port," Dr Piyath Bandu Wickrama, a Viyath Maga member, and the current secretary to the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage said in June 2019. He pointed out that there have been delays in bringing down cranes to the port, and that expediting the process will generate USD 100 billion in revenue to the country. "They are trying to sell these entities to foreign nations, while Sri Lanka has one of the world's oldest terminals," Dr Wickrama had pointed out. He had questioned as to how India can be allowed to handle Sri Lanka's ports when its own ports are being handled by Dubai. The current government has said that India's Adani Group will be allowed to occupy a 49 percent stake in the Colombo Port's East Container Terminal.