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Advocata calculates 55 SOEs have lost a cumulative Rs. 1.2 trillion from 2006-2020
As many as 55 State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have suffered a staggering Rs. 1.2 trillion cumulative losses from 2006-2020, says Colombo-based independent policy think tank Advocata.
The combined loss per day of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board, SriLankan Airlines, Sathosa and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board is about LKR 384,479,189, according to data for the year 2019, said Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, a veteran policy expert and an adviser of the Advocata Institute addressing a press briefing organized to highlight the urgency of carrying out reforms in SOEs.
“The basic issue is that we, in this country, are suffering from a twin deficit. We need to get started on addressing the core problem. Big, ponderous, government enterprises are not responsive to our needs. And because they’re not responsive, you will go home today and you will have a blackout of one hour, because they’re load shedding during peak hours,” said Samarajiva.
According to him privatizing a globally visible, yet loss making SOE’s such as SriLankan Airlines is the best solution to create confidence among investors that Sri Lanka is serious about reforms.
Sri Lanka’s SOE are a serious burden on public finances. With the economic crisis reaching a tipping point, it is becoming increasingly impossible to keep these loss making enterprises afloat. Continuing to do so at the expense of the taxpayer can have serious consequences to the economic trajectory of the nation, Samarajiva said.
The massive loses have been incurred in a backdrop of the country wading through a serious debt crisis with questions surrounding our ability to meet forthcoming debt obligations.
The briefing brought together a panel of industry experts who rang alarm bells on why Sri Lanka cannot afford to be complacent about State Owned Enterprise reforms anymore.
Prof. Samarajiva, explained the seriousness of this issue along with how privatization can achieve positive outcomes for the country.
“In 1997, Sri Lanka Telecom was making losses and providing bad services. Today, after privatization, it is providing us with good services and employment at rates double what employees were earning (under the previous state-owned dispensation). It is also providing the government with a dividend which generated billions to the government”.
He highlighted that the country has no other alternative to prevent the hemorrhaging losses of SOEs apart from privatization.
“Privatization is not a one size fits all model, it is different in different countries and sectors – as seen in the telecommunication industry in Sri Lanka – with a good regulator we can have competition, leading to greater efficiency and making technology accessible to the common public,” commented Ms. Anarkali Moonesinghe, Advisor to the Advocata Institute.
She further elaborated that possible avenues for privatization that can be considered include listing of SOEs on the stock exchange. According to Moonesinghe, “our stock market could use large capital companies that are owned by the government today. It not only gives people ownership but also broadens ownership by giving the average person an opportunity to become a direct stakeholder of these enterprises. This can be a better option than attaching the person through taxpayer money or having your EPF/ETF being invested in these enterprises”.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
