Launching a verbal assault on the Sri Lankan government apparently over the China-funded Colombo Port City project, Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, said the island nation was being dragged down a path of destruction by those who came to power claiming to protect the country.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said all hopes of the people for the present government had been dashed and a very precarious environment is being created in the country.

He said under whatever themes such as ‘good governance’ and ‘vision of prosperity’ the present rulers came to power, they had only committed betrayals and their journey should be stopped now.

Addressing a rare media briefing at the archbishop’s official residence, the cardinal said the people are disappointed in many aspects and how the country is being governed.

He said it was easy to sell off existing resources, but development was not about selling off all of the country’s resources and urged the government not to sacrifice its territory to other countries at this time.

He said the people did not vote for the government to merely initiate development projects and to sell state assets, ColomboPage reported.

He said the government should take decisions, not from the side of the rich, powerful, or foreign countries but the side of the people. The country will be gradually destroyed by this ‘corrupt’ government instead of a righteous, principled and transparent one.

Though the Christian priest did not take any names, it was apparent that he was targeting the port city project which has created a furor in the country.

The 269- hectare Chinese-bankrolled Port City is being developed adjoining Colombo Port on reclaimed land from the Indian Ocean.

The Sri Lankan government hopes the project could attract USD 15 billion in investments, and emerge as a leading business, retail, residential and tourist destination in South Asia.
 
Recently the Sri Lankan parliament passed the Colombo  Port City Economic Commission Bill, creating a city-based special economic zone.
 
Many analysts say the port city could be a game-changer for the USD 84 billion Sri Lankan economy. Yet some others call the project a potential threat to the island nation’s sovereignty, arguing that the new commercial zone would become a "Chinese colony".
 
(SAM)