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Advocata calls for urgent reforms to address inefficiencies plaguing SOEs

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/13

policy think tank, based in Colombo, the Advocata Institute, launched its latest report, “Getting the State Out of Business: The Compelling Case for Privatisation of State-Owned Businesses,” which featured a high-profile panel discussion, calling for urgent reforms to address the inefficiencies plaguing Sri Lanka’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs), a release said.

It said: The event featured a keynote address by Suresh Shah, Director General of the SOE Restructuring Unit, and insights from prominent industry experts.

The event began with a presentation by Rehana Thowfeek, Research Consultant at Advocata Institute. She emphasised the dire need to redefine SOEs, noting that current state enterprises, such as those in telecom, banking, ports, petroleum, and power, have become a major hindrance to the economy. Thowfeek highlighted the inefficiencies, corruption, and market distortions caused by over 400 SOEs, spread across 33 sectors, employing approximately 250,000 workers.

“Our SOEs are an inefficient, bloated bureaucracy,” Thowfeek stated. “The IMF has identified these entities as high-risk for corruption due to weak management, shoddy oversight, and significant political interference.”

Dhananath Fernando, CEO of Advocata, set the context in Sinhala, emphasising Advocata’s mission and its commitment to advancing economic reforms in Sri Lanka.”One main reason for advocating privatisation is the growing debt problem, with government businesses accumulating 6 trillion rupees in debt by 2023, compared to a tax revenue of 3 trillion rupees and interest payments of 2.5 trillion rupees.”

Suresh Shah, the Director General of the SOE Restructuring Unit, in his keynote address, stressed the need for the government to focus on its fundamental responsibilities rather than engaging in business activities. He outlined three main push backs against the current privatisation process: the profitability argument, the revenue argument, and concerns over national assets and security.

“Sri Lanka has missed out on investing in its true national assets, such as education and the younger generation,” Shah remarked. “The government should prioritise national security, economic development, education, and health. There is no need for the government to be in business.”

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.