Former President Maithripala Sirisena has observed that both he and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party led by him had always been against handing over the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port to foreigners.

He made this observation addressing the media following an event in Wadduwa. Sirisena said:

“I was against the transfer of the ECT to India and the SLFP-led by him, too has been opposed to such a move. When I was President, I had pledged before 3,000 to 4,000 port workers that I would not hand over the ECT to foreigners and my position has remained unchanged.

This is the SLFP stance too. I am fully against handing over any part of the ECT to a foreign power. As you know, when I was the President, some sections of that government wanted to hand over the ECT to India. I tried my best to stop them.”