Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that we should take the future into our own hands, leaving the past two years to the critics.
He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the construction work of the second phase of the Colombo Port East Terminal. The construction work of the second phase of the Colombo Port East Terminal commenced under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. The President and the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque marking the commencement of work at the East Terminal. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the two years lost due to the Corona pandemic, should be forgotten and we should raise hopes for the next three years.
Even though the past is important to the Opposition, the government must always accept the future, not the past.
The Prime Minister said that no one should give up optimism about the country and the future. The government is dedicating to steer the country in the right direction.
“We should take the future into our own hands, leaving the past two years to the critics. People should not to ponder on the previous two years lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic and keep hopes for the next three years instead. The past has value only to the Opposition. We must always embrace the future, not the past,” the Prime Minister added.
The port sector development was stand still during the last regime as that government did not understand the gravity of the port sector developments. Unlike the last regime the present government has placed the development of port sector on rapid development track.
Construction of the terminal, which will be carried out in three phases, is scheduled to be completed in 2024. It is spread over an area of 75 hectares and is 1,320 meters long. Once completed, the SLPA will have a fully-fledged terminal with 12 STC-operated ships and 40 Granty Cranes (RMG) operating on rails. The total cost is expected to be US $ 510 million and the Ports Authority will spend US $ 200 million.
Access Engineering PLC and China Harbour Engineering Company (LTD) jointly carry out the construction.
The Port of Colombo is currently ranked 23rd in the world according to the Alphineer Criteria for Ports Ranking. It will be ranked 13th after the completion of the new development work.
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, cabinet and state ministers, governors, ambassadors, parliamentarians, people’s representatives and government officials.
Add new comment