During a ‘Hiru’
media conference held during the Presidential Election campaign in 2014, Mr.
Ranil Wickramasinghe responding to a question of a journalist on the Port City,
replied that the “western coast would be severely affected as a result of the construction
activities of the Port City project. We ought to protect the coast. The coastal
belt from Colombo to Kalpitiya and from Colombo to Hikkaduwa will be lost as a
result if it is carried out”.
During
this same media conference, a journalist threw at him a very specific question
whether he would stop or continue the Port City project under his government.
He clearly replied that the project will be halted.
Although
he made such a statement during the election campaign he and his Ministers now
at various occasions declare views contradicting the above promise.
We do not
in any way condone the statement made by the Prime Minister made on the Port
City during a media conference in Davos, while two cases were being heard in
the Supreme courts. This in our view amounts to insulting the judiciary. Further, when he made the said statement the
process of receiving people’s views to the Environmental Impact Assessment
Report was incomplete as well.
Subsequently,
now arrangements are being made for the Prime Minister to visit China this
month and according to the Media reports Mr. Malik Samarawickrama and Sagala
Rathnayaka have already gone to China to conduct negotiations on new
projects. According to recent reports of
the government, the Colombo Port City Project will be resumed soon.
Listening
to people’s views and criticisms, and the participation of people in the
decision making processes, are essential traits of good governance.
That being so, views that have been expressed by people,
environmentalists, experts as a response to the EIA report on the Colombo Port
City Project cannot be ignored by a democratic government. It was due to the
lack of such democratic traits mentioned above that the government of Rajapaksha
was rejected by the people. Surely, people do not expect such a devilish
government back in power.
Nevertheless, when the lives of people are threatened by its development
strategies and if the country is ruled in a dictatorial manner ignoring people’s
views, it is the responsibility of the people to oppose such governance.
Therefore,
we urge the President and the Prime Minister to give a hearing to the appeal of
the people and halt this port city project which is harmful to our environment.
People’s
Movement against the Port City
Dean’s
Road
Maradana
Fr. Sarath
Iddamalgoda - 0714315124
Herman
Kumara - 077 318 4532
Hemantha
Vithanage
Vincent
Bulathsinghala - 031 2 233466
Sajeeva
Chamikara - 077 335 4801
Thilak
Kariyawasam -
Chintaka
Rajapaksha - 076 656 8663
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