The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) has accused the government of attempting to create chaos within the student movement by using their party representatives as university student leaders to push through their privatization plans in the education sector.

Issuing a statement, the IUSF said that this is being done using the respected name, official logos and letterheads of the Inter-University Students’ Federation.

The IUSF’s statement comes in the backdrop of a new group claiming to be the IUSF, having announced the appointment of a new convenor at a media briefing held on Sunday (20).

The new student group had also created social media accounts, including a Facebook page, claiming they are the IUSF.

Denying these claims, the IUSF has issued a clarification statement on its official Facebook page, accusing the government of attempting to create issues in the student movement. 

“Without being deceived by these false narratives and ideas, we call upon the entire university community and the general public to come forward to defeat the current Government’s oppressive agenda,” the IUSF said in its statement. 

Emphasizing its continued fight against the privatization of education, the IUSF urged the public not to be misled by the false propaganda of the Government, which it says has confused students and citizens. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says proper reforms are to be introduced in the energy sector in line with the social transformational mandate received by the new President of Sri Lanka.

Issuing a statement, the CEB said several initiatives are to be done via an amendment to the Electricity Act through extensive public and stakeholder consultation without the privatization of state-owned electricity sector assets.

The CEB further said that it is working to achieve the lowest electricity cost in the region in the next five years under a strong single-buyer market with an Independent System Operator (ISO) and unbundled generation, transmission and distribution licensees established.

A proposal was also made to form a committee representing employees at all levels to obtain the active contribution of everyone for future initiatives taken by the Ministry of Energy, it added.

The announcement comes as an online awareness program on the electricity sector reforms was conducted by the Chairman and the Board of Directors of the CEB on 23rd October 2024 for the entire CEB staff.

“Change is a common reality; timely changes are essential for any organization. Proper organizational reforms with periodic evaluations are imperative for any organization to increase the quality of service, maintain high standards in customer satisfaction, make reasonable profits to the organization, ensure high returns to the social economy, and improve the living standards of the employees,” the CEB added. (Newswire)

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The National Resource Protection Movement (NRPM) has decided to stage a protest in Colombo on Wednesday (Feb 21) against the government’s moves to privatize several public institutions. 

Issuing a statement, the NRPM said a joint protest will be staged at 12 noon tomorrow at the Lakehouse roundabout in Fort, Colombo.

“We stand united against the government’s reckless plan to privatize vital public institutions, including electricity, telecom, insurance, post offices, railways, banks, airports, and many more.

“This unprecedented sell-off is a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and the very livelihoods of Sri Lankans,” it added.

The NRPM further said it has taken the following concrete steps against the government’s moves:

• Trade unions in affected sectors are taking legal action to protect their rights and livelihoods. They will not be silenced, and they will not be sold out.
• We sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General highlighting the suppression of workers’ rights. The world needs to know what is happening here, and we will not let this injustice go unnoticed.
• We are reaching out to opposition parties, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens to build a broader movement against privatization. This fight belongs to all of us, and together, our voices will be unstoppable.

The full statement of the NRPM:

The unmandated Ranil-Rajapaksa regime is threatening to engulf our vital institutions, our economic stability, and the very future of our nation. 

The National Resource Protection Movement (NRPM) is sounding the alarm and calling for a massive joint protest on February 21st at 12 noon at the Fort Lakehouse roundabout. 

We stand united against the government’s reckless plan to privatize vital public institutions, including electricity, telecom, insurance, post offices, railways, banks, airports, and many more.

This unprecedented sell-off is a direct threat to national security, economic stability, and the very livelihoods of Sri Lankans. It hands over control of critical infrastructure to foreign capital like India’s Ambani and China’s Gochun, raising concerns about exploitation and compromising the nation’s strategic interests.

Adding insult to injury, the government has silenced dissent by suspending Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees and suppressing trade union action. 

This blatant attack on workers’ rights and the absence of any meaningful public consultation expose the undemocratic nature of the regime and this entire process.

But we refuse to be silenced! The NRPM stands alongside trade unions and concerned citizens to raise their voices in protest.

This unprecedented privatization spree is not merely an economic decision; it is an assault on national security, a potential Trojan horse that risks surrendering control of critical infrastructure to foreign capital. We see the names whispered – India’s Ambani and China’s Gochun – circling like vultures, eyeing our resources with predatory intent. Are we to stand idle and watch the stripping away nation’s strategic assets, leaving the country vulnerable and dependent?

But the attack goes deeper, silencing dissent with the brutal efficiency of an authoritarian regime. The suspension of CEB employees, their expertise and experience cast aside, is a blatant attack on worker’s rights. The suppression of trade union activities, their voices stifled and unheard, exposes the undemocratic nature of the process. The government wants to ram through privatization without heeding the concerns of the public, without assuring consent, and without even acknowledging the public’s right to determine its own fate.

The NRPM refuses to be silenced. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with trade unions, with the citizens who see their livelihoods threatened, with the students who fear a future stripped of prosperity and security.

Stop the privatization now! There are alternative solutions to the debt crisis, solutions that don’t involve sacrificing national assets and handing over control to foreign capital. Let us explore those solutions, through open dialogue and democratic processes, not through backroom deals and closed-door meetings.

Respect the rights of our workers! Reinstate the suspended employees and allow trade unions to freely represent their members. Their voices matter, their expertise is invaluable, and their rights must be enshrined.

Open the dialogue, and engage with the public! Privatization is not a decision for a select few to make behind closed doors. We demand transparency, open discussions, and a democratic decision-making process that takes into account the concerns of all Sri Lankans.

But our actions go beyond mere words. The NRPM has taken concrete steps to fight this injustice:

• Trade unions in affected sectors are taking legal action to protect their rights and livelihoods. They will not be silenced, and they will not be sold out.
• We sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General highlighting the suppression of workers’ rights. The world needs to know what is happening here, and we will not let this injustice go unnoticed.
• We are reaching out to opposition parties, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens to build a broader movement against privatization. This fight belongs to all of us, and together, our voices will be unstoppable.

On February 21st, let our voices resonate, carrying a message clear and unequivocal: our national resources, our public services, and the rights of our workers are not for sale! Together, we can defeat this threat and build a future where prosperity and opportunity are shared by all. Let this be the day we take back control, the day we say no to sell-outs, the day we declare that Sri Lanka’s future belongs to its people! Join us! Be the change you want to see! (NewsWire)

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Trade unions across various sectors are preparing to commence comprehensive joint discussions on the government’s alleged attempts to privatize key sectors such as electricity, banking, insurance, telecom, and postal services.

Issuing a statement, the Trade Unions said against the backdrop of the government’s current push to privatise public enterprises and assets under various guises, trade unions across various sectors are gearing up to commence comprehensive joint discussions next week. 

The move aims to address the concerns arising from the impending privatisation processes affecting electricity, banking, insurance, telecom, and postal services.

Anticipated to be a collaborative effort encompassing diverse trade unions, these discussions aspire to forge agreements based on the unique needs of each respective sector. To facilitate this dialogue, trade union leaders have been invited to a crucial meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Postal Auditorium.

The Trade Unions said several sectors, including electricity, banking, insurance, telecom, and postal services, have already expressed their endorsement of these discussions. In recent weeks, unions representing postal and telecom workers have staged strikes, with the latter continuing its protest action last week.

The invitation for these discussions, jointly extended by various trade unions, emphasises the adverse impact of state enterprise privatisation on a substantial number of citizens, potentially forcing them out of the national market. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the negative changes in working conditions that employees in these enterprises will face.

The Trade Unions further said the communication underscores a notable absence of electoral mandates for privatisation measures in recent elections, pointing out that neither the current government nor its predecessor has sought a mandate for this integration process. The Unions assert that implementing recommendations solely based on the demands of international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, without public consensus or formal stakeholder consultations, contradicts democratic principles and undermines the sovereignty of the people and the nation itself.

“While recognizing that there may be differing views on privatisation within the country, the trade unions collectively advocate for a unified and serious opposition to such a significant change,” they said.

Emphasising the need for a democratic and consultative approach, the Trade Unions have called for these discussions to ensure that the concerns of all stakeholders are adequately addressed. (NewsWire)

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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security says it will not recommend the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

The Committee chaired by MP Sarath Weerasekara has stated it poses a threat to national security.

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security further revealed that matters sensitive to national security could be exposed through this move. 

Sri Lanka Telecom was among several institutions that were brought under the purview of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation & National Policies via a Gazette notification in May. 

The Secretary to the Treasury also gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in May that the government-owned shares of Sri Lanka Telecom will not be divested before June 15, 2023.

The Treasury holds a 49.50% stake in the issued share capital of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. (NewsWire)

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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)

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will be broken into 14 privately owned enterprises under the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said in a statement that the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant and all hydropower stations, including the Mahaweli and Luxapana hydropower stations, are among the state enterprises to be privatized.

He further stated that a new company will be established to manage the CEB’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Employees Trust Fund (ETF), and pension funds.

Janaka Ratnayake added that the PUCSL will also be replaced by a new Electricity Commission governed by the Minister of Power and Energy. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Finance has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from consultancy firms interested in providing sell-side transaction advisory services with respect to the divestiture of four state-owned enterprises.

Issuing a statement, the Finance Ministry said its State-owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit (SRU) will place advertisements in the local and international press and via LinkedIn on Thursday, 30th of March 2023.

The Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been called from consultancy firms interested in providing sell-side transaction advisory services with respect to the divestiture of Government of Sri Lanka controlled stakes in the following enterprises: 

1. Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd 
2. Litro Gas Lanka Ltd and Litro Gas Terminals Ltd 
3. Hotel Developers Lanka Ltd (The Hilton, Colombo) 
4. Canwill Holdings Pvt Ltd (Grand Hyatt, Colombo) 

The Finance Ministry said interested firms will be required to respond to Request for Proposal (RFP) documents as well when responding to the EOI. 

Firms are free to express interest with respect to one or more of the above mentioned enterprises. Responses must be submitted on or before 4pm on 27th April 2023. 

The Ministry further stated that the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method of the Government’s Consultant Procurement Guideline will be used to select transaction advisors. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance said it was in the process of negotiating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to seek it services as transaction advisor for the divestiture of the government’s stakes in the following enterprises: 

1. Sri Lankan Airlines incl. Sri Lankan Catering Ltd 
2. Sri Lanka Telecom PLC 
3. Lanka Hospital Corporation PLC 

The Ministry stated that the transaction advisors will, inter-alia, assist the SRU with sell-side due diligence, valuation, data room creation, transaction strategy and marketing of the entities to be divested.

The Finance Ministry said the divestitures will be carried out by the SRU in a transparent and credible manner following an EOI / RFP process which will be published in the local and international press. Unsolicited proposals will not be entertained. (NewsWire)

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