Arjuna rallies port workers to face most challenging year

Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday urged port employees to rally together to successfully face 2017, a year he described as being the most challenging.

Addressing the staff of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on the first day of work after the dawn of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, Minister Ranatunga said last year too was challenging with many issues being faced but the organisation overcame those with unity but 2017 would be the most challenging. 

“This year is going to be the most challenging for the SLPA as there are many issues. One is a possible loss of business as many deepwater ports are emerging. The biggest challenge is the privatisation of the Hambantota Port,” the Minister said. He also added that there were also many controversies regarding the development of the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port.

Ranatunga asserted that the privatisation of the Hambantota Port had created a lot of controversy and issues at present and he called for the support of the employees of the SLPA to withstand the stormy situation ahead. 

He assured that if the Hambantota Port was privatised, as the Minister in charge his focus was to ensure a better deal for Sri Lanka, not for foreigners.

 “As employees of the SLPA, it is the responsibility of you all to protect the Ports and as the Minister in charge my responsibility is to create the background required for such protection by enlightening the Cabinet and the general public,” Minister Ranatunga added. He urged the staff not to limit their service to a certain timeframe and instead to work for the improvement of the organisation.

“I know that during the Hambantota Port issue, as well the bonus issue that came up recently, many of you all supported us to overcome those problems. I expect that same support to face all these issues we are about to witness in the future,” he stressed.  “For the first time we have been able to form a National Government, with the two main political parties coming together. A country should be built with everyone thinking in the same way as Sri Lankans. If we can instill this way of life among our people, we can change and bring this country to a better place,” Minister Ranatunga noted.

Ports and Shipping Ministry Secretary L.P. Jayampathy, SLPA Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga, SLPA Managing Director Sarathkumara Premachandra and other senior officials also participated in the event.