SJB opposes selling of strategically important SOEs

COLOMBO: SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne assured that main opposition was ready with a plan and strategies to implement projects for the wellbeing 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.

Addressing the media at the office of the Leader of Opposition, the former UNP State Minister said that SJB opposes the sale or privatisation 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 make sure the employees’ interest but no government paid its 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 of restructuring them.

“SJB is for restructuring of SoEs. But what is the philosophy for it. If a State organisation is involved in manufacturing goods and services priority should be given to provide quality goods with an efficient and competitive atmosphere to the consumers. Second priority is to protect the rights of employees. Restructuring should be made under a transparent process,” said Wikramaratne articulating the SJB 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 proper procurement process of competitive bidding 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 discussion with a US firm to bring in investment on energy sector. But it appeared to be a mysterious deal as there is no transparency seen in the transaction.

When we take SriLankan Airlines, its losses runs to more than 400 billion rupees. People of this country maintain this loss making airline with their direct and indirect tax money. SriLankan has under its wing two other sectors that are making profits. Now plans are afoot to privatise those two profit making organizations namely ground handling and SriLankan catering services leaving behind the airline to make further loss.

In 2019 a report was prepared as to how the SriLankan should be restructured. The President’s expert committee on restructuring Sri Lankan Airline headed by Eran Wickramaratne that included Dr. Harsha de Silva and the present CBSL Governor Dr. Nadalal Weerasinghe and few others, recommended that the two other entities that are making profits be made a joint corporate bodies of the SriLankan Airline in order to minimize its losses. The MP said that SJB opposes any effort on the part of this government to split the organization into three and selling off the two profit making institutions separately, making the SriLankan airline 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 has 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.