Strict prohibition on using of Hambantota port property for activities of military nature

There is a strict prohibition from using the Hambantota port property or surrounding areas in any activities of military nature whatsoever, whether in land, air or in sea, offshore, or offshore within the territory of Sri Lanka, according to the draft of the agreement tabled in Parliament today.

The agreement specifies that  the  use of the port property and the common user facilities  shall be strictly dedicated  for the purpose of  port and marine related  commercial and development activities  stipulated  in the agreement  and with a strict prohibition  from “using or carrying out any non-port and non-marine related commercial activities and/or activities involving military personnel  and /or any kind/type  of activities of military nature whatsoever , whether in land, air or in sea, offshore, or offshore within the territory of Sri Lanka .

“The government of Sri Lankan (GOSL) shall have the sole power and be the sole authority over such activities,’ the agreement stipulates.

It also states that “the sole authority for granting all requisite permissions, clearances and approvals for bringing in or berthing warships, submarines or storing, warehousing of any military equipment and machinery , installation of communication networks/facilities shall only be with GOSL.”

The GOSL will also establish its own level of domestic environmental and other protections and its own sustainable developments laws, policies and priorities and submit its commitments in occurrence with, and subject to the rules of international law, treaties and conventions.

The signatories to the public private partnership agreement for the port of Hambantota will be the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA)  ,Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the China Merchants Port Holdings Company (CMPort) Limited, according to agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, CMPort will invest a sum of US$ 1.12 billion in Hambantota port and marine related activities.

The Ports Authority will incorporate two separate private limited liability companies in Sri Lanka as independent profit oriented enterprises, with the two companies capitalized to a cumulative value of US$1.4 billion including through the transfer of assets of the Port of Hambantota and leasing out the man-made island.

(CK)