Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation
2026-02-18
Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka informed Parliament of his resignation from the Special Select Committee investigating the 323-container matter. He explained that although he held no ports-related portfolio when the incident occurred — serving at the time as Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing — his current ministerial role over ports could give rise to perceptions of a conflict of interest or compromise the Committee's impartiality. He tabled his resignation letter and clarified that the decision was made independently and was not made at the request of any other party.
Hon. Speaker, with your leave, I wish to make a brief clarification regarding my resignation from the Special Select Committee on the 323-container matter.
At the time I was appointed to that Committee by you, I was serving as Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing. I now serve as the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation. As the House knows, the release of containers and the related operational matters are handled by Sri Lanka Customs, which comes under the Ministry of Finance. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority functions as a facilitation agency for imports and exports.
Although I did not hold the Ports portfolio when the incident occurred, my continued membership of the Special Select Committee could be construed as a conflict among connected authorities, and could allow someone to allege a conflict of interest or to cast doubt on the impartiality of the Committee’s findings. Having considered this, I decided to resign from the Committee. I now table my letter of resignation.
Thank you for the time, Hon. Speaker.
Placed in the Library.
For the avoidance of doubt, I also wish to state that at the time of the incident I had no role in port affairs. My decision to resign was my own, taken after due consideration, and not at the request of any other party.