Independence, Reconciliation, Development & The Future Of Lanka

By Siri Gamage –February 4, 2016

Dr. Siri Gamage

We are passing another Independence Day with ceremony, pride and reflection at a time when the country faces a range of unresolved issues including poverty, lack of reconciliation, uncontrolled police culture, questionable activities of ‘professional politicians’ and a trend towards ethnic extremism – this time from the majority Sinhalese community’s fringe elements. Unless managed well, any number of these and other issues could turn ugly and the forward march of Yahapalanaya (Good governance) derailed. This risk is further enhanced if the country’s political leaders give priority to ‘Politics’ and ‘Privilege’ rather than ‘Good Governance’ in the name of the people who elected them. In a country where ‘transactional politics’ is the name of the game rather than ‘political morality and discipline’, pragmatism can override the principle unless civil society organisations that should function as the guardians of Yahapalanaya apply continuous pressure on the political leaders who tend to forget their promises to the people once in power enjoying the privileges of office.

Independence doesn’t mean much to those masses who tend to be oppressed by economic and social hardships of various types, particularly as a result of what some call ‘internal colonialism’. It is well known that many of our countrymen and women face immense difficulties in eking out a living within Sri Lanka and in other countries such as the Middle East. If people are to enjoy true independence, exploitative and unequal social and economic relations and archaic attitudes that exist in the country have to be eliminated. The question still being asked is whether the political change that occurred in January last year will usher in a new era where people can enjoy full rights and freedoms as empowered citizens? It is true that ‘the jungle rule’ has been replaced with ‘rule of law’ to some extent. Freedoms including media freedom, freedom to express, travel, and associate, etc. have been restored. Freedom from fears of various kinds including arbitrary arrest, bullying and disappearances has been restored. Moral and legal platform against corruption in public life has been convened. Semi-autonomous institutions of governance to restore faith of the public in the instruments of governance have been established. Reducing political interference has strengthened independence of the judiciary. Not only removing ‘the cut out culture’ but also the political leadership trying to lead by example has dismantled the cult of worshiping our dear leader- a concept borrowed from North Korea and other countries like Cambodia. Nonetheless, the people still suffer from a judicial system with lengthy hearing processes and delays -technically manipulated by lawyers -inherited from the colonial rulers. Like the constitutional change, Sri Lanka needs to move quickly to implement ‘a simplified legal system and procedures’ suitable for the 21st century, together with a modern education system not encumbered by historical baggage.                                                   Read More   

Christ, Constitutions and Community: A Freedom Day Reflection

• by Bishop Duleep de Chickera 
• - on 02/04/2016 

The sovereignty of all humans

The essence of Jesus’ teaching on the law is the sovereignty of all humans. When confronted with the oppressive nature of the then Jewish (Sabbath) law, He declares that the purpose of the law is not to suppress humans but serve them. In practice this teaching upholds the supremacy of humans and human wellbeing above all else and serves as the non-negotiable ingredient that shapes and undergirds all constitutions. Correspondingly the degree of human sovereignty within constitutions provides the standard by which these primary laws are to be measured.

An often overlooked aspect of Jesus’ teaching is that it embraces all humanity, equally. Laws that selectively enhance or favour, suppress or hinder particular religious, ethnic, economic or political interests, consequently make bad constitutions.

Public opinion and core values 

One of the dilemmas of consultative constitutional making in an aggressively competitive society such as ours is the possible upsurge of majority interests that could easily marginalise the interests of others.

One way of addressing this dilemma is for the principle of equal human sovereignty to be declared a non- negotiable at the outset. This would prevent a regression of content and also guide public opinion towards the ideals and content of inclusive constitutions. The wealth of impartial constitutional expertise within the country as well as rich global experiences, are more than adequate for this task.

The dangers of politicisation          Continue Reading →   

Sri Lanka I-Day to Have Anthem in Tamil

04/02/2016 

For about five years, there was an unofficial ban on singing the national anthem in Tamil.

The Sri Lankan government will stick to its decision to have the national anthem rendered in Tamil too at the official event marking the 68th Independence Day here on Thursday, amid objections from certain sections.

In 2010, the rendering of the national anthem in Tamil became an issue as the then Mahinda Rajapaksa government had toyed the idea of allowing only the Sinhala version to be sung. For about five years, there was an unofficial ban on the Tamil version to be rendered at official events. After Maithripala Sirisena became President in January 2015, the ban was lifted.

Commenting on the present government’s move, Lakshman Kiriella, senior leader of the United National Party and Highways and Higher Education Minister, told The Hindu that “the United National Front [led by the UNP] is a coalition of and for all races and religions”.

Thursday’s event on the Galle Face Green will begin with the rendering of the Sinhala version and end with the Tamil version, he points out, adding that there is nothing new about the move as this had been done even on the occasion of the first I-Day anniversary.

A few days ago, Thinakaran, a State-controlled Tamil daily, carried a report on the front page, reproducing the agenda of an official event in 1949 to establish that the practice of singing the Tamil version of the anthem had existed even then. At that time, the term used was “national songs” in Sinhalese and Tamil.

On the Rajapaksa regime’s approach, the Minister said that though there was no order in writing, the previous government did not follow the practice of allowing the Tamil version to be sung.

The anthem, called “Sri Lanka Matha,” was authored by Ananda Samarakoon, a student of Shantiniketan. It is said to have been influenced by Rabindranath Tagore. Criticising the government’s move, Uday Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya , said there is no Constitutional sanction for the action.

T. Ramakrishnan
The Hindu

Families of the disappeared call for justice in Mannar

04 February 2016

Tamil villagers in Mannar staged a demonstration calling for the Sri Lankan government to account for the massive number of people who have disappeared across the North-East.

Holding the protest alongside other demonstrations in the North-East, relatives of the disappeared said the Sri Lankan government must give them answers to account for their loved ones.

The protest took place as the government held a military parade in Colombo to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day.

The morning after the political honeymoon: President Sirisena’s future

Photo via Bloomberg

• by Dr. Kalana Senaratne 
• - on 02/04/2016 

With days turning into weeks and weeks into months, President Maithripala Sirisena appeared to have realized that power is ultimately the primary concern of politics and political leadership. What necessarily follows from this is also the realization that, to sustain a ‘good government’ in trying times one has to engage in practices which are antithetical to the very idea of good governance. Ever a contradiction to the ordinary mind, this is an uncomfortable reality in politics.

But in a democracy (unlike in any other system of governance), political realities can carry unpredictable consequences. Now with the completion of the first year in power, the people are exposed to a leader and a government, confronted by daunting challenges, facing an uncertain future. Once considered a refreshing voice – and still the West’s newfound darling of South Asia – President Sirisena has begun to speak and act in old and familiar ways. This isn’t surprising. As a political honeymoon (between a President and the people) slowly ends, the popularity wanes and the stains become more apparent, it would be natural for a leader to wonder how to retain power while protecting himself from his political enemies.

Lamentation

Democracies can tell us how the people have voted, what the numbers are. But they are unable to tell us accurately why leaders get defeated, why the people voted the way they did. This inability has caused the popular lamentation one encounters in political commentary about Sri Lanka today. In wondering, as political commentators often do, whether real ‘change’ has taken place, one may be engaging in a critical exercise; but it’s also an exercise that stems from a misunderstanding of what actually happened in January, 2015.

Rajapaksa-defeat           Continue Reading →

The Face Of Despair & The Black Day That Is Sri Lankan Independence Day

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah –February 4, 2016

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

Black Day for Tamils

The Sinhalese and some self-deprecating Tamils will be celebrating the 68th anniversary of Sri Lankan independence on Feb 4, 2016. On the other hand in stark contrast, Eelam Tamils who have their dignity, self-pride and self respect intact will be marking it as a Black Day. If independence is explained in the dictionary as self-government, self-rule, home rule, separation, self-determination, sovereignty, autonomy, freedom, liberty, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, etc., (Google it and see what you get), then it goes without saying what Tamil got on that fateful day in February in 1948, is a far cry from any of the synonyms here mentioned, and with the benefit of hind sight, a long way away from what we should have demanded as our human and political right!

It was on this Black Day, that Tamils moved from a white colonial master, quite decent in comparison, to serving a brown colonial master and were thrust into a suffocating Sinhala Buddhist hegemony and bigotry without our knowing the extent to which it would show its ugly face, until it hit, hit hard!

What happened to us?

What happened to us? We foolishly and naively trusted the Sinhalese, agreeing to a unitary system that resulted in them having a majoritarian stranglehold in parliament, and a Sinhala government at the centre. It was too late to reverse our misfortunes when we found these Sinhalese turned out to be scoundrels, wolves in sheep’s clothing more like, resulting in us Tamils ending up, in effect, losing our traditional homeland, our sovereignty and our rights. That’s what happened.

February 4th 1948 is indeed a Black day any which way we look at it and already a month before, I was starting to feel a bit heavy in the heart – remembering everyone who died for freedom, feeling the pain, and the horrors of the genocide perpetrated against Tamils that intensified during the month of May 2009!

                                                                      Read More

Families of the disappeared mark Independence day with protest in Batticaloa

04 February 2016
As part of protests that took place across the Tamil North-East to coincide with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, families of the disappeared in Batticaloa took to the streets demanding answers from the Sri Lankan state.

Banners questioned which communities actually experienced freedom in Sri Lanka. 

Full Speech of President Maithripala Sirisena at the 68th Independence Day Celebrations

04/02/2016

Today we all join together to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Independence Day with pomp and glory. Since we got independence from the British Colonial rulers, we have been marking this momentous day of Independence every year and this is the 68th occasion.

When we consider the day like this in 1948 and today, in 2016, in our country as well as the in other countries in the world, there had been vast transformations in economic, political, social and cultural fields.

If we analyze or interpret the independence we gained, I believe that there is a vast difference in what our people expected in 1948 and what the people expect today, 68 years later.

I describe a child born in 1948 as a Child of Culture. Today, a child born in 2016 in the beginning of the 21st Century, we see as a Child of Technology. I believe that we should, collectively make efforts to build the nation by joining the Child of Culture born in the post 1948 era or early 1950s and today’s Child of Technology.

When we talk of the great freedom fighters who struggle valiantly to win freedom from the Colonial rule, we can see very clearly that among the national heroes, there were Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim leaders who fought together, shoulder to shoulder in unity and brotherhood to win independence for the Motherland.

Read More

“Our Son Yoshitha!”

By Granville Perera –February 4, 2016 

Madame Shiranthi and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa grieved for their son with tears in their eyes when Yoshitha was remanded. He has been incarcerated on financial irregularities, money laundering and other charges of breach of Navy rules during the previous presidency. Yoshitha’s arrest (hopefully) should be just the beginning of the Rajapaksa tears, as the “shit has begun to hit the fan”.

Little do the Rajapaksas realize that there was a family and nation who loved Wasim Thajudeen, the St. Thomas’, Havelocks and Sri Lanka rugby player as much as they do, their notorious sons? There has been widespread speculation that Wasim Thajudeen did not meet an accidental death, and that the Police and the investigating officials including the doctors who performed the autopsy have faulted on purpose, under executive pressure. The claims of CCTV footage and autopsy reports that existed have suddenly vanished into thin air. The phone recordings and data that Dialog Axiata had presented to courts after many years of denial seem to be “top secret”. Captain Tissa, and the Carlton land rovers that were suspected of involvement in the Thajudeen murder have vanished. ‘Captain Tissa’, a military officer, a confidante of the Rajapaksa family had functioned as a driver and food taster of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.                                   Read More

Bhikkhus acting as chandiyas (tough guy rowdies ) not suited for monkhood ; They are trying to shed blood again- Prof. Bellanvila Thera

(Lanka-e-News- 04.Jan.2016, 7.30PM) Rowdy tough guy role is not congruous with the life   of a Bhikkhu , and such Bhikkhus are not suitable any longer to lead  a bhikkhu’s life .The new  Sinha Le ‘game’ is also another myth  , said , Professor Ven. Bellanvila Wimalaratne Thera the deputy chief incumbent .The Ven. Thera made these comments when he attended the 75 th anniversary of the Young Buddhist society, Piliyandala   . The Ven. Thera went on to elaborate as follows :

''Lately , a decline  in the monkhood is being witnessed. The monks must think carefully whether they are conducting themselves in accordance with the Buddhist monkhood . If they do not  exercise  restraint    , even though the monks may wear the robes , their conduct  does not harmonize with  the robes. In addition a Bhikkhu with that name cannot behave like a  tough guy rowdy .Besides   bhikkhus cannot have a  chandiya character  (tough guy rowdies).

Such behavior does not agree with monkhood under any circumstance.A bhikkhu has limits and if he  trespasses on those limits he can no longer be within the Bhikkhu order..

Today under the name of Sinha Le , a new ‘game’ has been introduced into this country.Sinha Le refers to the blood of the Lion.  Are we a race that was brought up on Lion’s blood ? This is an absolute myth and a story telling. We chose the word ‘Lion’ because it symbolises pride.  

We don’t like this country to spill blood again. Yet these individuals are trying to once again spill blood. Hence , it must be probed who are those behind this.

The only religion that is not bound by laws is Buddhism. Lord Buddha did not introduce laws in regard to us. In Christianity there is a law called ‘Kraman.’ But in Buddhism there is no such thing. Buddhism is a religion that is based on self restraint.There is now a book of rules on religion. Through that the wrongs committed shall be rectified. Buddhism is not narrow rather it is very broad .Everyone should live harmoniously and peacefully .''

When Professor Ven. Bellanvila Wimalaratne Thera was delivering this discourse , the mahanayake Dr. Iththepana Dhammalankara of Kotte Sri Kalyana Samagri Dharma maha sangha was occupying the front  chair . 

This function was held at the Piliyandala Central College auditorium on the 31 st of last month.

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by     (2016-02-04 15:17:34)

Prado Deal: JVP repeats allegations, challenges Ravi to open debate

By Shamindra Ferdinando-February 3, 2016, 9:57 pm 

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has accused Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake of interfering in Customs operations thereby causing massive revenue losses to the government.

MP Dissanayake reiterated the accusation at a public meeting in Sooriyawewa on Tuesday. The JVPer challenged the Finance Minister for a live television debate to discuss the circumstances under which the Customs had released vehicles without charging due duties on imported vehicles properly.

A smiling Dissanayake said Minister Karunanayake had accused him of making unsubstantiated allegations taking cover behind parliamentary privileges. "Now, I have repeated the accusation outside parliament. I’m ready to face Minister Karunanayake at a live debate."

MP Dissanayake emphasized that he took up the Customs issue in Minister Karunanayake’s presence.

Addressing the media on Monday (Feb.1) at the Finance Ministry, Minister Karunanayake warned the JVP leader that legal action would be taken if such accusations were made outside parliament. Denying allegations pertaining to him intervening on behalf those who had imported Prados, Minister Karunanayake claimed that there was a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation.

Minister Karunanayake said there wouldn’t be any issue in respect of such transactions due to setting up a specific mechanism. The minister said that incumbent government had imposed highest taxes on vehicle imports therefore no basis for the JVPer’s claim.

Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Customs Chief Chulananda Perera joined Minister Karunanayake at the briefing.

Customs Chief Perera explained procedures adopted in respect of the Prados released under controversial circumstances. Perera stressed that the government hadn’t suffered any revenue loss contrary to claims.

Mahinda Sarathchandra who represented the vehicle importers association told the Finance Ministry briefing that MP Dissanayake had made accusations on the basis of false data made available to him.

Dissanayake urged the government to take punitive action against those who had profited at the expense of the government.

The JVP leader told the gathering at Sooriyawewa that vast majority of those who had visited former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son, Yoshitha, now in remand at Welikada prison on a charge of Money Laundering, too, should be behind bars.

Dissanayake claimed that of those who had visited Yoshitha perhaps UPFA members Dinesh Gunawardene and Dallas Alahapperuma were the only ones not being tainted. He however said he couldn’t vouch for their integrity.

The JVP reiterated its fullest support to the ongoing investigations undertaken by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID).

The JVPer repeated accusation pertaining to what he called Prado deal at a press briefing at party headquarters yesterday. MP Dissanayake said that the government should inquire into what he called Prado matter.

The day Nalanda’s dream became true!

Feb 04, 2016

MP Nalanda Sydney Ellawela, who was killed by a then MP in the opposition on 11 February 1997, said at the unveailing in Anuradhapura of the charter of the Sudu Nelum movement launched in the mid-1990s by the Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga regime, “If this racial war is ended one day and we, the Sinhalese, could join hands with the Tamil brothers and sing our national in their language too, it will be the best way of gaining reconciliation.”

His dream became true with one week to go for the 19th year after his murder.

That was due to the bold and great commitment by president Maithripala Sirisena and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

It came in a dark background in which Sinhala and Tamil racists were exposing their fearful fangs and sneering at the nation.

While Tamil extremists ask as to what benefit Tamils would gain by the singing of the national anthem in Tamil, Sinhala extremists allege that was being done to appease India, Britain and the US, and that the same fate of the national anthem will befall the national flag and the state insignia too. 

A certain racist website watched only the singing of the national anthem in Sinhala at the commencement of the national ceremony to mark Independence Day, and reported that the national anthem was not sung in Tamil. That was posted at 9.20 Sri Lanka time. But, it reported dejectedly at 

11.26 am that the national anthem was sung in Tamil too.

This step taken by the president and the prime minister amidst numerous disruptions by Sinhala extremists who cry out for the blood of the Tamils and the Tamil racists, who would not be satisfied by anything short of Eelam, is commendable.

The most ironic thing in racism and extremism is that they do not know that they are separatists although they claim to raise a voice against separatism.

With India’s support, the Rajapaksa regime was expelled to deny an opportunity for international interference to pave the way for a separate state for Tamils. India will have to bear the harmful impacts, if a separate state is created within Sri Lanka. What Sinhala racists should know is that as long as India remains our neighbour, a separate state will not be possible in Sri Lanka. India very well understood the possibility of the creation of a separate state, with the United Nations mediation, within Sri Lanka, if the Rajapaksa regime continued for five mother years, gave leadership to the best response of toppling the Rajapaksa regime.

It is the incumbent prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who had made a silent, but lasting and commendable contribution for the 2009 war victory by creating an internal rift in the LTTE through the 2002 peace accord. What Mahinda Rajapaksa did was to complete the final lap of a relay event and claim the trophy for himself.

According to our evaluations and reviews, the best separatist in Sri Lanka is Mahinda Rajapaksa. Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Muruttettuwe Ananda, Bengamuwe Nalaka, Medagoda Abhayatissa and the so-called intellectuals Gunadasa Amarasekara and Nalin de Silva serve on behalf of separatism. As we mentioned before, all these brand the moderates as supporters of separatism.

At today’s Independence Day celebration, foreign affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera and highways state minister, SLFP media spokesman Dilan Perera referred to the late Nalanda Ellawela’s dream 20 years ago.

Making a special statement to Lanka News Web regarding the new development, minister Dilan Perera said, “Today is a day all those who wish for true reconciliation could be happy. Had Nalanda been amongst us today, he would have been very happy. Hereafter, we will not go after racism to win votes. All of us should be immensely thankful to the president and the prime minister for this bold act.”

FM Sarath Fonseka Not Entitled To Be A Parliamentarian

By Faizer Shaheid –February 4, 2016

Faizer Shaheid

Death is often not an instance of merriment for any, unless you are one who is aspiring for a parliamentary seat. In this country of dirty politics and sagacious politicos, it is quite easy to manipulate the law to fool the people. However, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”.

In this particular instance, the death is of a veteran Politico, M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana, who entered Parliament through the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) National List. He who looks to make merry from his death is none other than Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who had contested under the flaming torch symbol in the last Parliamentary Election and lost.

Following the death of Gunawardana, speculation was rife that FM Fonseka would be appointed to his seat, even while Kabir Hashim, General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP), which is the main constituent party of the UNFGG, maintained suspense. However, now that the position of the UNP has been made clear, the legal position of his appointment is also mandatory.

Disqualification

Any person who is entitled to be an elector can be an MP, unless he is rendered ineligible as according to the grounds stipulated in Article 91 of the Constitution. Under Article 91 (1) a person is ineligible to become an MP if he is disqualified to be an elector. A person ordinarily serving a conviction, or has served a conviction in the last seven years would generally not be capable of being an elector, but FM Sarath Fonseka is no ordinary person. He is one who has received a presidential pardon, and such person who has received an absolute pardon from the President is exempt as according to Article 34.            Read More  

Ranatunges a byword for corruption are responsible for the first strike at an Institution under good governance !

(Lanka-e-News -04.Jan.2016, 7.30PM) The raising of Ports entry fee by an unimaginable unconscionable  4000 % by the mentally deranged Ranatunge family in charge of Port administration  provoked the joint Ports users association staged a strike yesterday (03) .

Lorry drivers , workers unloading goods from vehicles, Wharf representatives , Wharf clerks , and sub contractors together participated in the strike. It was also decided that a huge demonstration staged during the strike in front of the YMBA building Fort at 11.30 a.m. yesterday.
This Ranatunge family that is a byword for corruption and frauds , and is monopolizing the Ports via corrupt and crooked administration , had raised this fee entry so atrociously perhaps  because they have no time to think sanely and sensibly when introducing new levies since  their entire gaze and thought are fixed only on  making a fast buck even slitting the throats of the poor wage earners and Port entrants. Hitherto the fee paid to enter the port was Rs. 280.00 , whereas the new rate is Rs.  11 778.00 , and for a vehicle to enter Port , the fee has been raised from Rs. 365.00 to Rs. 13320.00 !

No matter the rackets and deceits of Arjuna  and his brothers , Arjuna has today fastened on himself the disgraceful stigma as the first cabinet minister of the government of good governance under whose ministry a  strike was staged . 

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by     (2016-02-04 15:21:59)

Boycott cripples-  rudderless port -Losses mount, cargo piles up

By Dasun Edirisinghe-February 3, 2016, 12:00 pm 

Police speaking to protesters

A simmering dispute between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the port users over ‘unconscionable’ increases in port entry permit charges yesterday came to a boil with most port users boycotting the Colombo Port despite a last minute assurance by the SLPA Acting Chairman to reduce the charges later this month.

The Island exclusively reported on January 08 the impending confrontation.

Shipping sources said yesterday’s boycott of the port had resulted in over 90 percent of the more than 2,000 container carriers that normally entered the port keeping away and urgent export cargo missing their vessels and import cargo piling up in the port.

They said the backlog of export/import cargo created in just one day would take at least one week to clear. The loss to the country was estimated at more than Rs 50 million.

Adding to the chaos has been the absence of the Chairman of SLPA Dhammika Ranatunga from office for more than a month. The Island understands he has gone abroad for medical treatment. Dhammika, who is a brother of Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed to the post amidst allegations of nepotism.

Solidarity of Port Users’ Associations (SPUA) Co – Convener B. I. Abdeen threatened to continue the boycott if the SLPA did not reverse the decision to increase the port entry charges by 4,000%.

According to the SLPA decision a permit for a prime mover which was Rs. 300 per year has been suddenly jacked up to Rs 12,000 and the annual permit for a person has gone up from Rs 250 to Rs 10,000. So a prime mover operator who employs a driver and cleaner now has to pay as much as Rs. 32,000 annually just for entry permits compared to less than Rs. 1,000 earlier.

Abdeen said that due to wharf clerks’ boycott alone, Sri Lanka Customs had not been able to collect Rs. 37 million yesterday.

About 8,000 port users such as lorry drivers, prime mover drivers, wharf agents and clerks and sub contractors had taken part in yesterday’s boycott, Abdeen said.

"Any kind of payments to the Customs did not take place and issuing of permits also stopped at the Lotus Road entrance while the port users staged a demonstration opposite the Customs headquarters," he said, adding that SLPA management had not decided to revise the charges until end of the day.

Abdeen said that they had complained about the unbearable increase to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

"We will have to continue boycott until the SLFP grants our just demand."

President of the Association of Container Transporters, Upali Gunawardena said that even Singapore, which was considered the guiding light for other regional ports charges a mere USD 1.07 for a five year permit issued to regular port users.

Gunawardena said they would have to eventually pass the increase in the fee on to the consumers by charging more for clearing import as well as export cargo.

Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga was not available for comment.