Opposition MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has questioned the lack of public disclosure regarding Colombo Port City official salaries and challenged whether the project has delivered on its investment and job creation promises.
MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has raised concerns about the absence of public salary information for Colombo Port City officials, pointing out an inconsistency in government transparency standards. According to Rasamanickam, some Port City officials receive monthly compensation between Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2 million, yet this information remains undisclosed despite Right to Information requests. The MP highlighted that salaries of the President, ministers, and parliamentary leadership are publicly available, questioning why similar transparency should not apply to Port City administrators.
Beyond compensation concerns, Rasamanickam has challenged the Port City project's track record against its original objectives. The project was initially projected to attract US$50 billion in foreign investment and generate over 80,000 employment opportunities. The MP questioned the actual achievement of these targets, suggesting the project's performance does not justify the resources committed to it.
Rasamanickam has proposed stronger government action, recommending that the lease agreement be terminated if the Port City has failed to meet its contractual commitments. He drew parallels to standard commercial practices, where private lessees face lease cancellation for non-compliance with agreed terms. The MP also called for the Port City Commission to appear before the Committee on Public Finance for further scrutiny.
Additionally, Rasamanickam referenced recent media reports of criminal incidents involving foreign nationals at the Port City, suggesting a pattern of security concerns associated with the development.
