May 19, 2021 Share
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s top court has ruled that some provisions of legislation to set up a powerful economic commission in a Chinese-built port city violate the constitution and require approval by a public referendum to become law.
At the center of the dispute are fears that the $1.4 billion port city, part of China’s sweeping Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, could become a virtual Chinese outpost or colony.
Sri Lanka’s government is looking to the project as a lifeline for an economy hard stricken by the pandemic.
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena read out the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on Tuesday. The court said the bill could undermine the exclusive lawmaking powers of Parliament by empowering the proposed five-to-seven member commission, appointed by the president, to set and enforce rules within the port city.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka’s top court has ruled that some provisions of legislation to set up a powerful economic commission in a Chinese-built port city violate the constitution and require approval by a public referendum to become law. At the center of the dispute are fears that the $1.4 billion port city, […]
Sri Lankan court: China-built port board needs approval by public referendum
Top Searches
Sri Lankan court: China-built port board needs approval by public referendum
AP / May 19, 2021, 13:24 IST
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEMail
File photo: A Chinese construction worker stands on land that was reclaimed from the Indian Ocean for the Colombo Port City project.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka s top court has ruled that some provisions of legislation to set up a powerful economic commission in a Chinese-built port city violate the constitution and require approval by a public referendum to become law.
At the center of the dispute are fears that the $1.4 billion port city, part of China s sweeping Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, could become a virtual Chinese outpost or colony.
Sri Lankan court: China-built port board needs public assent
By KRISHAN FRANCISMay 19, 2021 GMT
FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2018, file photo, a Chinese construction worker stands on land that was reclaimed from the Indian Ocean for the Colombo Port City project, initiated as part of China s ambitious One Belt One Road initiative, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s top court , Tuesday, May 18, 2021, has ordered that some provisions of a legislation to set up a powerful economic commission in a Chinese-built port city violate the constitution and require approval by a public referendum to become law. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)