By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

State Minister Diana Gamage yesterday pledged to bring an investor who is to start up US $ 5 billion project to construct a transport hub from Fort Railway station to Maradana. 

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget, the State Minister said she had already briefed the President on this project which will be a private and public partnership.   “Sri Lanka has lost an opportunity to set up a light rail system years ago. Country’s economic situation would have been much different if the planned light railway projects went ahead as planned,” she said. 

She stressed that the government should rethink the decision to increase visa fees for foreigners to $ 35. “Are we going to focus on just $ 35 and neglect the average spending of $ 1000 when tourists visit this country?” she questioned.   

Launching a verbal attack on the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa whom she said is planning to hold a mass protest march from Kandy to Colombo, she said the latter should not provoke people. “You will be assaulted by the people on the roadside if you sabotage economic resurgence,” she said.