Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called for the Government to delay any plans to privatise national assets and state-owned enterprises until after a new Government is elected.
Issuing a statement, Rajapaksa expressed concerns that the Government’s intentions to privatise certain national assets and State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have sparked unrest among trade unions, political groups, and citizens.
He highlighted that the present Government is an interim arrangement, intended to manage the country during the remaining term of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He argued that those in favour of privatisation should consider that selling state-owned assets during this interim period may not secure the best results for the nation.
Responding to the former President’s statement, former SLPP member MP Charitha Herath noted that every misstep of the current administration led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been supported by the majority of MPs representing the SLPP. “We welcome H.E. @PresRajapaksa’s stance in these challenging times. Yet we need to uphold honesty in our political discourse. Every misstep by this administration & @RW_UNP had the support of majority of MPs of @PodujanaParty. Therefore SLPP should to oppose this in Parliament,” the MP said taking to ‘X’.
Also reacting to the statement, Opposition MP Harsha de Silva suggested that Rajapaksa said that he has undermined President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s position, by opposing SOE reform. “So @PresRajapaksa says NO to @RW_UNP SOE reform. Rejuvenated by his friend, leader of @PodujanaParty has at the opportune time (for him) pulled the rug from under his feet; opposed a major plank of RW strategy. Now what for RW? Go ahead? Succumb? Dissolve?” de Silva questioned on X. (Newswire)