The government is considering the option of withdrawing its plans to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, in partnership with the Adani Group of India.

The development comes against the backdrop where the government has come under severe pressure from a number of trade unions at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to withdraw the plan. The trade unions have threatened to launch stronger union action should the government fail to respond to their demands.

State Minister Nalaka Godahewa and former SLPA Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrema, now a Ministry Secretary, today visited the SLPA premises to meet the protesting workers. They were booed by a group of protesters who insisted that the government must only begin negotiations after pulling out of the proposed "Adani deal".

Meanwhile, several prominet Cabinet ministers, including Wimal Weerawansa, have expressed their dissappointment with the proposed deal. They are of the view that the East Container Terminal (ECT) should be developed and operated by thre Sri Lanka Ports Authourity (SLPA), with the involvement of a foreign party — a sentiment shared by protesting unions.

It is in this context that the government is now rethinking its ECT strategy, a top government source told Asian Mirror. However, it is still not clear as to how the government intends to manage the New Delhi's interets in the event of a sudden withdrawal. The development of the ECT was a focal point during discussions between the Sri Lankan government and India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar during the latter's visit to the island.