Govt reiterates no plans to sell state enterprises

President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated yesterday that the government will not sell the state institutions to the private sector as speculations are being spread over the topic. “Though various ideas are expressed that the government is planning to sell thos insititutes but it is not the policy of the government to do so,"

President made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the Jaya Container Terminal at the Port of Colombo held yesterday in parallel to the 37th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

“We will take decisions to take the state sector institutions which are running without profit to a level of earning profit. Sometimes we have to act in cooperation with the private sector on that regard”, he said..

He praised the contribution of the Colombo Port to the economic progress in the country.  “The government will make every contribution to further develop the Port”, the President said.

President Maithripala Sirisena declared open the reconstructed CFS-1 warehouse at the cargo operations began at the auspicious time with the signal of the President.

He pointed out that though the Colombo Port is not an institution which runs without profit, it’s a burden for its development that the SLPA has to allocate its profit for discharging the loans taken for Hambantota Harbour.

“Though the loan burden of Rs. 90 billions is an obstacle for the development of the country we will develop the country by enhancing the economic growth through local industries and exports” he stated.

He also declared open the reconstructed CFS-1 warehouse at the Jaya Container Terminal in parallel to the 37th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The new warehouse at the Jaya Container Terminal, constructed with the aim of providing better facilities to their customers. The 5,400 square meters long warehouse constructed using modern technology. President Sirisena also launched the new website of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

During the ceremony, a sum of Rs 2.5 million donated to the fund for kidney patients. Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga presented a memento to the President.