SLT-Mobitel to offer its underutilised properties to corporate sector on long term lease

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

SLT-Mobitel has more than 580 properties throughout the country and plans to offer those lands and properties to other  companies on lease  to raise around Rs 400 to 500 million from them,   Rohan Fernando, Group Chairman SLT-Mobitel said.

“We have already discussed with unions and other relevant stakeholders in order to take the initiative to offer land to leading companies like the Commercial Bank, Pizza Hut and other companies on long term lease so that we can utilize some of our underutilized assets. `We hope to earn around Rs 400 million from this venture from next year. ’’ Fernando told at a media conference at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the SLT-Mobitel Digitally Ready for System Change in Sri Lanka’ event yesterday. Fernando said most of the loss making State owned enterprises have huge underutilized assets including huge unused land base and these should be put to use.

SLT-Mobel is one of the few companies never burdened on the government coffers and its is totally independent and  listed in the stock market. ” Therefore, last week we paid dividend through a cheque  amounting to Rs 1.8 billion to the Ministry of Finance” Fernando said.

Chairman said that in the public sector there is more than 1.5 million workforce and half of the government tax goes to pay salaries to them. Therefore, IMF reiterates to downsize the number, which is a very unpopular decision for the government at this juncture, he said

  “Even if you go to the IMF for 50 times it will not create a system change for economic benefits without taking drastic measures especially in the public sector to cut down expenses,” Fernando said.

He also said that they have had cordial discussions with the unions and other bodies before executing these projects. Similarly, other government bodies too can take a leaf from us and provide their unused land and other infrastructure to the private sector and earn revenue. He also said that in another cost cutting move the SLT and Mobitel amalgamation saw offices of both coming under one roof.

Fernando said that digital is the future of Sri Lanka but sadly bureaucracy, changing of ministers and changing of secretaries delay the implementation of this process. “For example we have provided ticketless travel e- gates to the transport and railway sector but it is still to be utilised,” he said.

Similarly, we have offered the Sri Lanka judiciary system where a person can get an email or SMS about their next court case date, but sadly this too is yet to be implemented.”This is why I say that the IMF bail out alone won’t help to resurrect the Sri Lanka economy.”

SLT-Mobitel also announced a national proposal to enhance critical services and sectors, and digitally empower citizens. The new system change proposed by SLT-Mobitel places digitally empowered citizens at its foundation, with digitalisation of identities and strong digital security and privacy.

This will serve as the building block for new technological innovations that can strengthen Digital Commerce and E-Governance in all aspects of operations critical to the county. SLT-Mobitel has identified healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, tourism, judiciary and banking and finance as critical services and sectors that can thrive under this new system, more efficiently and transparently.