The government’s decision to proceed with the Colombo Port City project without a detailed analysis of its re-evaluation process has thrown the credibility of Prime Minister of Ranil Wickremesinghe into question, as he was the most vociferous critique of the same project when the UNP was in the opposition.

The Prime Minister, who was then the Opposition Leader, posed some solid questions to the government on commercial and economic benefits of the project, its environmental impact, absence of tender procedures and feasibility studies and several other similar issues.

When Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday that the government had decided to proceed with the project after a detailed revaluation he did not disclose the remedial measures that have been suggested to address the issues pointed out by the Prime Minister when he was in the opposition.

According to the Cabinet Spokesperson, the matter has been reconsidered in the context of the new government’s bilateral relations with China. He also said that the President would visit China in March and he would hold discussions with Chinese authorities on this project.

No explanation was given by the Cabinet Spokesman on the issues which Prime Minister Wickremesinghe when he was the Leader of the Opposition.

Therefore, it leaves ample space to speculate that the new government too has decided to move on with the controversial project without paying much attention to its negative impact.

The questions that Wickremesinghe raised in Parliament in February, last year, are as follows.

“What is the reason for launching such a project? Is it because the required lands cannot be found from the city of Colombo that the sea is filled for this project? What is the total amount spent for the construction of this city. How would that be found? Were the tenders and proposals called for such a huge project? If so, what are the dates and in which media they had been published? Or else, on what basis the investors and companies were selected for the purpose? On what basis was it decided that nearly half of the Colombo Port City be offered to a Chinese Company? What is the extent of land of this city that the government of Sri Lanka would keep in its possession after this construction? What is the authority with powers vested to carry out this project? What are the tax concessions offered, if any? Under what regulation had they been offered? What are the commercial and economic benefits the country would gain out of this project? Will there be hotels, cafeterias, or flats built in this city for the general public? If so, what are they? Will the cost preservation and environment be adversely affected by the sea filling made for this project? Have the reports been received from recognized institutions on the environmental impact and other matters pertaining to this project? Will he present all reports and letters pertaining to the above questions and the said project to parliament?”