Union blames loss-making state ventures on governments using them as job banks

By Shiran Ranasinghe

Successive governments had used state owned enterprises as job banks for henchmen and the same politicians are now complaining that those venture were making losses, head of the National Employees Union of the Petroleum Corporation, Ananda Palitha, said yesterday.Palitha said that the government was trying to sell the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), stating that they were making huge losses.

“The same people who overstaffed these institutions and bankrupted them are now claiming they are making losses. They can still be turned around if proper action is taken.”

Trade unions will launch a strike if the government tried to sell the Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Telecom, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and other strategic assets on the pretext of restructuring, Palitha warned.

Palitha said that the unions had commenced discussions on a strike. “The government is trying to convince people that the CEB and the CPC are making losses because of their workers’ salaries, and overtime payments. The government will then sell these organisations to foreign companies cheaply”, he said.

Palitha said that if the salaries, and the overtime payments, are the reason for high fuel prices, then Lanka IOC should be able to sell their fuel at a lower rate.

“Prime Ministers SWRD and Sirimavo Bandaranaike took over many strategic assets that were under the control of foreign companies. The current leaders are selling these assets, back to foreigners”, he said.

Palitha said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had made colossal economic blunders that made it impossible for the CPC to import fuel.

“The same people shut the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery. Now they are trying to blame the workers for this disaster,” he said.

Palitha added that the government was also trying to sell profit-making state assets such as the SriLankan Catering and also Ground Handling. “Minister Nimal Siripala has said that both make profits and the government will use the proceeds from the sales to pay off SriLankan loans. “They must try to find a buyer for the loss-making airline. Who took away the airline from Emirates?” he asked.