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Govt’s Blitzkrieg to sell national assets sparks ‘do or die’ battle: JVP leader warns of dire struggle ahead

Published

2 years ago

2024/01/7

Thilina Walpola

A section of the crowd

JVP comes out strongly against hasty selling of what’s left of family silver by incumbent govt

By Saman Indrajith

Sri Lanka polity is set to face a ‘do or die’ struggle in the coming months, says JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Addressing a seminar at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo on Tuesday (2) under the theme of ‘Untold truth of selling off national assets’ Dissanayake said this is going to be a very decisive year for Lankan people as the government has fast-tracked its moves to sell off national assets in an unprecedented manner.

“The CEB is to be divided into parcels which could be sold off and the amendments to the laws for this purpose are to be passed within this month in Parliament. They have likewise fast tracked the processes of selling off the Insurance Corporation and Telecom. For suppressing upcoming public outcry against privatizing these national assets, new draconian provisions are to be in place with the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill and Online safety Bill.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing the seminar

Both the processes of selling off national assets and implementing new laws to suppress people’s voices against it have been fast-tracked and the government is in a mighty hurry to get these done in the shortest possible time. As such we as a nation are being pushed towards a very decisive time. The seven to eight months to come will witness the most decisive struggle and it is going to be a do or die type struggle,” Dissanayake said.

Dissanayake said that people would have to fight against privatization and make it count because that struggle would decide the future of the nation. “The government has no excuse for selling these national enterprises but the very same old pretext that they are loss making and a burden to the national economy and the treasury.

This brings to our mind how these very same people had been harping on the same tune before the end of the war, that the country could not be developed because of the expenses for the war effort. Maithripala Sirisena as the minister of health went on saying that two new hospitals could be built if we had saved money spent for firing rockets from multi-barrel rocket launchers for 24 days. People now know how money was used for development in the post-war period.

“They now say the same about public enterprises ear-marked for selling off. They tell people that if we sell them off, the money saved could be channeled into health, education, and other welfare programmes. Experience shows that this is a lie. Twenty-one plantation companies were sold to private companies, and 18 of them have been reported to make losses and cannot even increase the daily wage of a worker to Rs 1,000. Almost all those companies have not settled their loans to banks.

The end result is now the tea industry is in the hands of low-country tea-small holders. How could this happen if privatizing was good. As of now seven financial companies, 41 industries and 21 plantations have been sold off. Among them were the Ceylon Oxygen Company, Ceylon Leather Products, Lakspray Company, the Nylon Company under Ceylon Petroleum, Mattegoda Textiles Company, Ceylon Oils and Fats Corporation, Hingurana Sugar Factory, Mahaweli Marine Corporation, and Eastern Paper Mills Corporation. None of them are in existence today. If privatizing is good, they would have thrived after selling off,” Dissanayake said.NPP National Executive Committee member Prof Anil Jayantha also addressed the seminar.

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Pakistan High Commissioner pays courtsey call on PM

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/2

Priyan

High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer met with the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees on 30th April

Welcoming the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister expressed sincere appreciation for the continued support and cooperation extended by the Government of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, particularly the assistance provided following the Ditwah Cyclone.

Both sides reaffirmed the longstanding and cordial relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are founded on mutual respect, friendship, and shared interests.

The meeting also focused on the importance of further strengthening collaboration in key sectors such as education, tourism, and sports, with a view to enhancing people-to-people ties and creating new opportunities for cooperation reiterating Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening bilateral engagement.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Ms. Zunaira Latif, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka pays farewll call on PM

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/2

Priyan

The Ambassador of Nepal to SriLanka, Dr. Purna Bahadurn Nepali paid a farewell courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursday (30th of April) at Temple Trees.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed sincere appreciation for the dedicated service and valuable contributions towards strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal during the tenure of Dr. Purna Bahadurn Nepali.

Both parties reaffirmed the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries, which are based on shared cultural, religious, and historical linkages. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to further deepening bilateral relations with Nepal and enhancing cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/2

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 01 May 2026, valid for 02 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.