The Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) opposes the sale or privatization of strategically important State-owned Enterprises (SOE), such as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said.
MP Wickramaratne told the media that however, the SJB insists that the monopoly now enjoyed by such State-owned Enterprises be brought to an end with private sector participation in a competitive market system.
The SJB Parliamentarian further assured that the SJB was ready with plans and strategies to implement projects for the well-being of the people no sooner it comes to office after elections due shortly.
People of this country are eagerly awaiting to oust this government which has no mandate or even proper plan to implement for the country, he added.
Full statement:
SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne assured that the main opposition was ready with a plan and strategies to implement projects for the well-being of the people no sooner it comes to office after elections due shortly. People of this country are eagerly awaiting to oust this government which has no mandate or even proper plan to implement for the country.
Speaking at a media conference held at the office of the Leader of Opposition Sunday he said that SJB opposes the sale or privatization of the strategically important SOEs such as CEB and Petroleum Corporation but insists that the monopoly now enjoyed by such SoEs be brought to an end with private sector participation on a competitive market system. The reason for it is, so far attention was paid to making sure of the employees’ interests but no government paid attention to consumer interests.
People do complain that even if there is a surplus of employees in government institutions, they cannot get a service done without paying bribes. We cannot simply reject these allegations as there is no smoke without fire. Most of the SoEs are inefficient and loss-making. Now the government has been talking about restructuring them.
“SJB is for restructuring of SoE. But what is the philosophy for it? If a State organization is involved in manufacturing goods and services priority should be given to providing quality goods with an efficient and competitive atmosphere to the consumers. The second priority is to protect the rights of employees. Restructuring should be made under a transparent process.” Revealed Wikramaratne articulating the SJP policy on SOE restructuring.
He also mentioned that amongst several Expressways that were constructed in the country except one all other projects have been awarded without following the proper procurement process of a competitive bidding process to known persons or companies. Under this context, the people of this country have suspicions of the actions of this government as it has handled major development projects not for the country but for kickbacks.
In the recent past, the present government has had a discussion with a US firm to bring in investment in the energy sector. But it appeared to be a mysterious deal as no transparency was seen in the transaction.
When we take SriLankan Airlines its losses run to more than 400 billion rupees. People of this country maintain this loss-making airline with their direct and indirect tax money. SriLankan Airlines has under its wing two other sectors that are making a profit. Now plans are afoot to privatize those two profit-making organizations namely ground handling and Srilankan catering services leaving behind the airline to make a further loss.
In 2019 a report was prepared as to how SriLankan Airlines should be restructured. President’s expert committee on restructuring SriLankan Airlines headed by Eran Wickramaratne, which included Dr. Harsha de Silva and the present CBSL Governor Dr. Nadalal Weerasinghe and a few others, recommended that the two other entities that are making profits be made joint corporate bodies of the SriLankan Airlines in order to minimize the losses incurred by the Airline. But, the MP said that SJB opposes any effort on the part of this government to split the organization into three and sell off the two profit-making institutions separately, making the SriLankan airlines incur further losses.
Referring to a recent speech of the President in Parliament, he said that the President implied that if the stock market is to be closed, it could be liquidated. The Country’s Head of State should not make such a statement even for humour. After the statement of the President, Nestlé decided to withdraw from the stock market after 40 years of investment.
At a time when the investments of other foreign companies should be attracted to the stock market and FDI, if foreign companies withdraw because of such statements, Eran Wickramaratne asked whether this government does not need any foreign investments in this country or is it a ploy to bring in foreign selected investment that would benefit individuals with commissions. (NewsWire)