By Charindra Chandrasena President’s Counsel (PC) Gamini Marapana is tipped to be appointed Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, which, once formed, would be the main authority managing the Colombo Port City project, well placed sources told The Morning today (29). As per the recently enacted Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the power to appoint the members of the Commission and it is learnt that Marapana is the likeliest candidate to be picked for the Chairmanship, although the appointment is yet to be confirmed. Gamini Marapana PC was the Counsel for the Intervenient Petition filed by Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris in support of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Draft Bill recently, following a number of Special Determination Petitions filed against the draft bill at the Supreme Court. He is the brother of Tilak Marapana PC, who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the ‘Good Governance’ or ‘Yahapalana’ Government, and the father of Navin Marapana PC. He is a past pupil of St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. According to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, the Chairperson and members of the Commission can serve a maximum term of three years with the possibility of being reappointed thereafter. The Commission is being formed following a legislative and judicial process which saw the relevant Bill, which was presented to Parliament on 8 April, being challenged on several fronts. One of the most contentious clauses of the Bill was Section 7 (1), which stated that the Commission must consist of between five and seven members, including the Chairperson, and be appointed by the President but specified no requirement for any of the members to be Sri Lankan citizens. “In making such appointments, consideration shall be afforded to ensure that such members possess relevant knowledge, expertise and experience and national or international recognition, in the fields of Investment, Finance, Law, Information Technology, Engineering, Business or Accountancy. The President shall appoint one member from amongst such members, to be the Chairperson of the Commission,” the Bill read. After considering the Special Determination Petitions filed against the Bill, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardene, Murdu Fernando and Janak de Silva determined that a majority of the Members of the Commission must be Sri Lankan. The determination was submitted to the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and was read out in Parliament on 18 May. Later that day, Prof. G.L. Pieris said that the Government agrees with all recommended amendments to the Bill in the Supreme Court determination. The amended Bill was passed on 19 May with 149 members of Parliament voting in favour of the Bill and 58 voting against it. No details are as yet available about the other likely members of the Port City Economic Commission.