Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Friday, 14 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
1.What overarching steps the Government has taken to safeguard the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity, and Constitutional Commitments/Rights and Freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka, especially in the preamble and Articles (1), (3), (4) and (5) in Chapter I, Article (26) in chapter V and Articles 118 to 147 in Chapter XVI and the associated legal and judicial structure and systems of Sri Lanka, in regard to the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City;
2.Assurance that the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Sri Lanka will prevail and be preserved over the new land area covered by the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City in line with the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and in terms of International Law, and a further assurance that any such rights will not in any manner or form vest in full or in part in the Project Company, Associate Company or in any other third party as the creator, contractor, by agreement of otherwise;
3.Assurance that the freedoms and rights of citizens of Sri Lanka will prevail in the entirety of the new land area covered by the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City exclusively;
4.Assurance that the Common Law and Equity of Sri Lanka and the judicial structure and systems of Sri Lanka will exclusively apply and prevail in regard to the new land area and operations covered by the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City;
5.Assurance that within the new land area covered by the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City, or any defined zone within such land area, no exclusivity of property rights will vest in any party, persons or body of persons who are not citizens of Sri Lanka;
6.Assurance that all statutes, laws and regulations of Sri Lanka, including statutes, laws and regulations of Sri Lanka imposing any specific restrictions of ownership or operations or conduct of business will not be waived or disregarded in application and regulation, in favour of the Project Company, any Associate Company or any third party, person or body of persons, unless otherwise so specifically provided for in the said statutes, laws and regulations of Sri Lanka;
7.Assurance that by any agreement, contact or proposal duly accepted by the Government or any agency of Government or any officer of Government, including the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, no specific or general exemptions, concessions or specific incentives have been granted in general or specific terms to the Project Company or any other party associated with the Colombo Port City development, outside of the exemptions set out in the schedule to the Gazette Notice No. 1846/51 of 24 January 2014, and especially in regard to in regard to the following
a.Grant of permanent residency commitments to persons engaging in business, owning, leasing or otherwise occupying any houses, apartments, offices constructed within the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City, with or without the right for future citizenship application;
b.Grant of exemption from any restrictions as regards property ownership, leasing, or rent purchase outside of the laws, regulations applying to such ownership or leasing, or rent purchase, within the city of Colombo;
c.Grant of exemption from any statutes, laws or regulation applying to operation of any business, trade, commerce, services, or the practice of any profession or any vocation within the city of Colombo;
8.The justification and rationale supporting the approval by the Cabinet of the covered project, classified as a “Strategic Development Project” in the national interest and which is likely to bring economic and social benefits to the Country and which is likely to change the landscape of the country, primarily through
a.Strategic importance to the goods and services of benefit to the public;
b.Substantial inflow of foreign exchange to the country;
c.Substantial employment generation;
d.Enhancement of income earning opportunities;
e.Transformation in terms of technology.
9.Publicly make available, the undernoted agreements, reports and any associated documentation in regard to the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City;
a.The Agreement signed by the Project Company with the Board of Investments of Sri Lanka;
b.The proposals made by the Project Company, or any Associate Company or any other Person(s) in regard to the balance phases forming a part of the proposed Colombo Port City Development, as described in the official announcement published in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Website (Annex A)
10.Publicly make available the undernoted reports, analysis and any associated documentation in regard to the proposed new project for the development of the Colombo Port City ,n order that the public can assess the;
a.Long Term Net National Cost Benefit
b.Long Term Net Foreign Exchange Profitability
c.Environmental Impact Assessment
d.Sources from where sand and other land fill materials will be sourced for the proposed project construction
Kindly note that his intervention is made, in a spirit of democratic engagement, in pursuit of the promotion of transparency and good governance Sri Lanka.
Your early public response will be gratefully appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Chandra Jayaratne
