Ranil vows to annul Colombo Port City project

Wednesday, 17 December 2014 00:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremsinghe yesterday warned that the new government, which would be formed by the joint opposition after the current regime was defeated at the January 8 elections, would scrap the Colombo Port City Project.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met tourist industry leaders yesterday at the Opposition Leader’s office. Pegasus Reef Hotel Director P.M. Withana (left) and UNP MP Harsha De Silva also participated at the meeting – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara Wickremesinghe made this early declaration during a meeting with tourism industry stakeholders at a meeting in Colombo. He said the multi billion project would be scrapped because it would end up destroying the coastal belt from Negombo to Beruwala. He said the Mattala international airport would be made viable and put to better economic use while a new airport would be constructed in the Eastern Province. Wickremesinghe said the new government would put in place a program on a long-term basis to attract high-spending tourists with the intention of converting Sri Lanka into a major tourist hub by 2025. “We will make sure that all stakeholders in tourism industry are provided with equal opportunities and a level playing field,” UNP Leader added.