Aitken Spence takes SLPA to court over Hutchison bid

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Court of Appeal on Monday issued notice on the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in a writ application filed by Aitken Spence and Company Ltd. seeking to reject the bid of Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd. in the tender process relating to the South Container Terminal of the Colombo Port Expansion Project.

The court issued notice returnable on October 10. The Bench comprised Justice K. Sripavan and Justice Rohini Perera.

Petitioner Aitken Spence and Company Ltd. cited eight respondents including the SLPA, Chairman and the members of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) as respondents.

Aitken Spence stated that the Government is proposing to expand the Port of Colombo through Sri Lanka Ports Authority under the Colombo Port Expansion Project to develop its status as a regional hub.

The company said the project will include the construction of basic infrastructure and will be followed by the construction of three terminals in stages.

The petitioner stated that the expansion will be undertaken in collaboration with the public and private sectors where the Government will be financing the basic infrastructure of the Port with the funding of the Asian Development Bank while the private sector will finance, design, build and operate the new terminals under BoI concessions.

Aitken Spence alleged that CANC illegally and beyond its legal authority continued to evaluate the Bids of, Hutchison Port Holdings who were disqualified and ineligible in terms of the amended RFP document.

The notice will be returnable on October 8.