“We are setting aside an area of 1,000 acres as special investment zone for Chinese firms to set up operations in Hambantota,” he said yesterday (10) at a media briefing at Temple Trees upon his return from a China visit.
Noting the unbearable debt burden to be shouldered by the people, he said discussions would be held with Chinese companies willing to take charge of the loss-making projects with equity.
A weekend newspaper reported that white elephant projects initiated by the previous Rajapaksa regime would be handed over to the lenders.
This is internationally accepted, but nowhere in the world an international airport and port handed over to outsiders, the newspaper said.
This will have a grave impact on national security, it said, adding that top government figures have already raised the Avant Garde floating armoury’s keeping foreign weapons as a national security issue.
In light of that, handing over an airport and port cannot be taken lightly, it said.
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