COLOMBO:The Sri Lankan government has appointed a fresh committee to study the possibility of continuing a multi-million dollar port city project in Colombo, an official said here the other day.
Cabinet spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne said a proposal had been made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Cabinet this week to appoint a committee of high ranking officials to consider whether to permit the project, which has remained suspended since March, to continue.
“As per the recommendations of the committee appointed to review this project the construction work has currently been suspended. The proposal made by the prime minister to appoint a committee of high ranking officials chaired by the secretary to the prime minister for considering the ability of permitting the continuation of this project after correcting the lapses and procedures was approved by the cabinet,” Senaratne said.
The US$1.4 billion port city project in the capital, funded by China Communications Construction Co, was suspended by the new Sri Lankan government which took office in January after concerns were raised over some aspects of the project.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Highways Eran Wickramaratne recently acknowledged that there was no corruption involved in the Colombo Port City project and the only concern was whether the proper procedures had been followed.
The project began construction in September.
