We didn’t plan Hambantota Port protest – Namal

Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa says that they had no part in organizing the protest launched by employees at the Hambantota Harbour. 

He was addressing a press conference at the Parliament Complex today (10) regarding the protest and the involvement of the Sri Lanka Navy to disperse the agitators this morning.

Namal, who is the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that this issue would have been resolved by now if his father’s government was in power and that there would be no seeling of the Hambantota Harbour. 

He charged that although there are two ministers in the Hambantota District, none of them directed their attention towards this issue.

Responding to a question from journalists, Rajapaksa said that he had intervened due to the harbour being located close to his residence and because he has a right to look into this as the former chairman of the Hambantota district development committee.

When asked about the Rs 60 million in losses incurred on a daily basis as a result of ships not being allowed to leave the port, he said that using the navy to attack workers cannot be approved just because of losses. 

The Hambantota District UPFA MP, who represents the Joint Opposition, said that using the navy to carry out attacks when these issues can be resolved through talks with the employees, reminds him of what the incumbent government said when it came to power.