Sinister move to allow private companies to run express-ways: SJB MP

3 January 2021 09:43 pm Views - 2110

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told a press conference that the process of allowing the private sector to involve in running the express ways will begin by forming an authority to run the express-way.

“This will eventually be converted into a company by selling shares either through the Colombo Stock Exchange or directly, so that private sector companies could purchase stakes of this new company.

There is also a move to set up new exit points for all express-ways so that lands in the vicinity of these express-ways could be sold to a higher price. This is how the government is planning to increase revenue during this year,” Dr. de Silva charged.

“There is also a move to set up an authority and a company to administer all lands and hotels in Colombo. These lands will be eventually sold to the private sector,” he added.

“We are revealing these matters to the people mainly because those in this government opposed the move by our government to set up private- public partnerships. They said we were selling off Sri Lanka’s valuable assets. Now this government seems to be doing the same,” he also said.

Referring to the bringing down of Ukrainian tourists, Dr. de Silva said the issue in that regard, was to allow a few to get benefited from it. "The total debt of local tourist industrialists has been estimated at Rs. 350 billion and no opportunity is provided for these industrialists who have been affected. As per procedures recommended by the Tourism Regulatory Authority which are aimed at controlling the COVID- 19 pandemic, have been violated by this project. These tourists who have been brought down by Ukraine have not been subjected to the proposed bio- bubble,” he said.(Yohan Perera)