• Premalal Jayasekara admits to spending his money for food during ‘development observation visit’; SLPA denies any expenditure; Sajith queries ethics of ‘bankruptcy bash’ 

Trade unions attached to the Colombo Port are in the process of submitting a complaint to President Ranil Wickremesinghe with regard to a questionable party of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarians that took place at the Colombo Port premises recently.

“We are writing to the President as he is the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers,” All Ceylon General Ports Employees’ Union Chief Secretary Niroshan Gorakanage, told The Daily Morning, expressing concerns about several aspects of the above-mentioned event.

The party, said to have been facilitated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) as per a request made by Ports and Aviation State Minister Premalal Jayasekara from the SLPA, was held on Tuesday (9) within the Colombo Port area. Videos of the event circulated on social media showing several SLPP members, including former President and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Water Supply State Minister Sanath Nishantha, attending the party, while allegations have been levelled that around 50 persons had been invited to the party. 

The controversy surrounding the SLPA is based mainly on its alleged role in spending for the party, which some have claimed cost millions. 

Adding that the trade unions demand an investigation into the matter, Gorakanage said that although the source of funding remains unclear, it appears that millions of rupees had been spent. In addition, Gorakanage raised safety concerns relating to the party. According to him, one vessel named “Hansakawa” which was used for the party can carry only around 26 persons with an assurance of safety, as it is built for dredging purposes. He added however that around 70 persons, including the security detail and aides of the attendees and the vessel’s staff, had travelled aboard the vessel when the party took place.

The Daily Morning’s attempts to contact SLPA Chairman Keith D. Bernard in this regard were not successful. SLPP General Secretary and MP Sagara Kariyawasam and Jayasekara were unavailable for comment. 

However, Jayasekara denied many of the above-mentioned claims as well as those circulated on social media, adding that the spread of false information is regrettable. He told a press briefing that the said event was organised because MPs had made a request to observe the activities of the Colombo Port, and that MPs from opposition parties such as Vijitha Herath from the National People’s Power and Ranjith Maddumabandara from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) had also been invited. 

He expressed disapproval of a certain trade union leader, who he said was spreading inaccurate statements about the cost of the event, and also the person that secretly videoed the event which he noted was attended by a former President and over 20 MPs. He further said that he spent his personal money for the food provided during the event.

Meanwhile, the SLPA, too, in a statement refuted the said allegations, stressing that the event was meant to give MPs an opportunity to observe development activities of the Colombo Port. It added that such trips are organised for groups such as state leaders, very important persons, professionals, and media personnel with the objective of disseminating accurate information about those development activities. The SLPA claimed that it did not bear any expense relating to food or anything else for the party as has been alleged.

The incident was discussed in Parliament as well, where SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned how ethical it was to hold such parties with Sri Lanka being a bankrupt country. He criticised the nature of the party, which attracted Government MPs’ ire.