‘Compensation proposed for fisher families woefully inadequate’:

Resumption of Port City project under fire

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Eco groups and civil society organisations condemning the resumption of the Colombo Port City Project, said the government is not listening to the people and not including them in the decision-making process which is undemocratic and detrimental to society.

Convener for the People’s Movement against the Port City, Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda said the government has gone back on its word and is going ahead with the project which is catastrophic to marine lives and the livelihood of fishermen. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his election pledges promised to put an end to the port city project when his government comes to power.

Although he made such a statement, on various occasions he has contradicted the pledge, Fr. Iddamalgoda said.

He said the Movement against the Port City does not condone the statement by the Prime Minister in Davos, while two cases were being heard in the Supreme Court and the process of receiving people’s views to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report was incomplete. “There are several flaws even in the supplementary report on the environmental impact assessment released by the government.

It states that there are only around 9,000 fishermen in the country whereas there are over 30,000 in Negombo alone. The compensation proposed for fisher families due to the deprivation of livelihood for three years is woefully inadequate,” Fr. Iddamalgoda said.

Advisor to the Prime Minister and company director, Dinesh Weerakkody said the Port City project is a positive move which sends a strong message to potential investors. The project will fundamentally change the Colombo landscape.

The government has proposed to grant Rs. 5 million as compensation to fishermen who would be deprived of their livelihood for three years. The People’s Movement against the Port City will continue its agitation to ensure the protection of marine life and the livelihood of the fishermen.

The government commenced negotiations with China on the resumption of work on the US$ 1.4 billion project, a year after it was suspended by the new government due to environmental and livelihood concerns.

Tilak Kariyawasam of the People’s Movement against the Port City said the views of 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 that the government of Rajapaksa was rejected by the people.

The Ministry of Ports and Shipping, in a letter to the CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, said the company could resume work on the project immediately.

The Port City project which will be the first of its kind in South Asia began construction work adjacent to the Galle Face Green near the Colombo Harbour in September 2014 under the previous government. However, it was suspended by the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena in March last year, six months after it began construction work. The new government said the project needs to be reviewed. The Port City is expected to boost the local economy by generating millions of dollars upon its completion and providing over 80,000 jobs.

Premier Wickremesinghe said the country will have a “unique financial and business district” in Colombo when the Port City resumes work.

The project includes a marina and yacht club, a central boulevard, a sea view apartment complex and a five-star hotel, shopping and entertainment centre, office space, a mini golf course and many other modern facilities.

The Port City is also vital in the government’s megapolis development program which was launched this year and is set to transform the capital and its suburbs in the coming years.