Employees of Colombo Port resumed their protest campaign this afternoon demanding the government to start East Container Terminal (ECT) operations soon directly under the Sri Lanka Ports Development Authority.
Members of 23 trade unions of the Port Authority will participate in massive protest demonstration this afternoon (from1 2 noon today)near the port chaithya,President of Sri Lanka ports independent union Lal Bengamuwage said.
A black week has been declared commencing from today he said adding that their struggle will continue until the Sri Lanka Ports Authority receives complete control of the terminal.
He pointed out that the gantry cranes purchased to develop the terminal are not being used, despite being unloaded after a strike by port workers recently.
The government has incurred a loss of about 100 million rupees and unloaded the gantries but operating the gantries is prohibited he added.
He claimed that the current government is intending to hand over the terminal to India after the August 5 parliamentary election.
“Through the cabinet paper 48 percent of the terminal has been handed over to the Indian company while the Japanese company has completely withdrawn from it,” he said.
Bengamuwage added that the remaining 51 percent of the terminal is to be shared between the Sri Lankan government and other organizations.
The Sri Lanka Ports authority will only have about 15 percent of a share left of the terminal.
(LIN)