So-called patriots sold most state assets while claiming to protect them – SJB

By Saman Indrajith

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya yesterday alleged that the governments of the so-called progressive political forces had been responsible for the biggest sale of national assets to foreigners and local companies. SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Maddumabadara addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo on Tuesday (2) said that governments of SLFP, PA, UPFA and SLPP had sold off the highest number of public enterprises to the private sector or to foreign investors.  “Among them are Colombo Gas Company, Orient Lanka, Rajarata Agro Chemicals, Lanka Salt, Puttalam Salt, Sri Lanka Telecom, SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Insurance, Overseas Realty, Kelanitissa. In most of those governments Mahinda Rajapaksa was in the Cabinet. They sold the Colombo International Container Terminals to China and South Asia Gateway Terminals to a local company. In both cases the government stake was a mere 15 percent while the buyer got 85 percent of shares. They handed over 600,000 acres of land belonging to the state sector plantation corporations to private companies and foreigners. They are the very ones who came to power, promising to save national assets.

Madduma Bandara alleged that those involved in the East Container Terminal deal were notorious for commissions. They took commissions from the Southern Expressway project, the extension of Railway to Beliatta, purchase of MiG aircraft, etc. We are planning to expose these deals to people in the coming days. They sold the land belonging to the Army Headquarters. Soon after coming to power this time they sold three acres in the land near Galle Face. We have information that some areas in Colombo are being surveyed to be sold to foreign companies. That land includes the Bank of Ceylon Headquarters’ land and Police Headquarters’ lands.”

Maddumabandara said that one of the main accusations against the UNP and the SJB was that they would sell national assets. “They with the support of the media and their propagandists succeeded in having the public believe that UNP was the party that privatised and sold national assets. What we did actually was enabling employees of the corporations to buy 10 percent of shares. But statistics show that it was the so-called progressive camp that sold off the highest number of public enterprises.”

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella also addressed the media.