News
Opposition has its say, Govt. has its way
The Government passed the Revival of Underperforming Enterprises or Underutilised Assets (Repeal) Bill on Thursday (20), despite vehement protests from the Opposition.
Some Opposition parties saw the Bill as a sinister move to hand over the Pelwatte and Sevanagala sugar factories to Minister Daya Gamage.
United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Gamini Lokuge told the House that, when Sevanagala was under Daya Gamage, the number of employees receiving EPF benefits had declined to just 157.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Sunil Handunnetti pointed out that the industries were making profits after being taken over by the Government. He questioned whether the Government intended to give them back, after the earlier Bill is repealed.
Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella stated that Minister of Plantation Industries, Navin Dissanayake would introduce an amendment, which would require the subject Minister’s approval, if any of the enterprises are to be handed over to someone else.
JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti appealed to the Government to keep the Pelwatte and Sevanagala as they are and take the other 34 institutions listed in the Act, under the Treasury. “Both these factories have been making profits since they were acquired by the State, so why is there a need to bring them under the Treasury now,” he queried.
He claimed the Government was trying to give the two factories to Daya Gamage, “as he has spent funds to pay the salaries of Sirikotha staff and its electricity bill.”
Minister Daya Gamage strongly pushed back the allegations levelled by the Opposition. “Sevenagala Industries was running at a loss of Rs. 143 million when I purchased it,” he said, adding that, he teamed up with a Chinese investor to purchase the factory. “However, the Chinese investor subsequently, backed out after witnessing the protests that were underway against privatisation,” he further said.
He claimed he invested Rs. 2,800 million on the factory, but the then Government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa took it over as an act of political revenge. “Though some companies that had their businesses taken over received compensation, I did not get even a cent,” he complained.
“I have told the PM that I don’t want this sugar factory, but to grant me compensation, given how much I invested,” Mr Gamage stressed.
The Revival of Underperforming Enterprises or Underutilised Assets (Repeal) Bill was passed by a majority of 22 votes, with 91 MPs voting in favour and 69 against. The United National Front voted for the motion while the JVP and the UPFA voted against it. The Tamil National Alliance abstained.
On Friday (21), Parliament also approved regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, banning the National Thowheed Jamaath, Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim and Willayath As Seylani. The groups were banned in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.