Ranil trying to open doors to economic hitmen like Elon Musk: Hadunnetti

31 May 2024 10:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 59 Bookmark

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Colombo, May 31 (Daily Mirror)- President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to open doors to economic hitmen like billionaire Elon Musk, George Soros and James Packer by introducing the Economic Transformation Bill, NPP Economic Council member Sunil Hadunnetti said.

Addressing a meeting with the business community in Badulla recently, he said President Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed that Elon Musk is coming to Sri Lanka to provide WIFI.

"Ranil said in 2015 that free WIFI will be made available to all. He has now dropped the word 'free' and says WIFI will be given in 2024. Elon Musk will never give free WIFI," he said.

He said Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed earlier that James Packer is coming to invest in Sri Lanka. But he never came with any investments.

Hadunnetti said a publicity stunt is being operated through a separate company by using government funds to show that foreign investors are coming to the country.

"There are businessmen in the world who visit countries on request of the Presidents in those countries. But,they do not always bring in investment," he said.

Comments - 59

Ranjan Friday, 31 May 2024 11:29 PM

But, neither of you JVP, Rajapaksa's or Premadasa fellas brought us Petrol, Electricity or Gas when the all island was stand still waiting in queue. Only man to bring em was RW...! Don't forget that..!!

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Nilmini Abeyakoon Saturday, 01 June 2024 10:24 AM

Because of whom did all these fuel imports into Sri Lanka get stuck? Wasn't it RW's friends?

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Gona Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:06 PM

Are you a copy of Ranjan R? Ranila gave everything free???? 117/- petrol is 350.00...... the list goes on. Ranila is keeping a 100% margin by letting his friends import these essentials. So next time when you make comments be rational. Don't show your idiosy to the world. You slave.

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Prof Senerath Friday, 31 May 2024 11:30 PM

Gorge Soros and Parker were indeed financial manipulators - that's a fact. Have you heard of Black Friday?

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Yohn Saturday, 01 June 2024 11:11 AM

lol. Tell me a name of a businessman who is not cunning and manipulative either locally or globally. Every successful businessman is cunning and manupulative.Without that you cannot survive and succeed as a business. Take local businessman's like DP,Harry J,Dilith, Dadley etc..All are same.

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:16 PM

Are you a real professor or what? Those guys are big traders who can move the markets with their big trades . They are the smart ones, dump professors like you cannot even get .001% of their skill in predicting market direction.

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Dayantha Jayarathna Friday, 31 May 2024 11:34 PM

SH is partially correct here. While there is nothing wrong with inviting a billionaire to explore opportunities, having a clear understanding about what is needed and the real problem Sri Lanka has with providing internet facilities to people is essential. The reason why people don’t have access to internet is not because we don’t have the technology to provide it. The problem is in the current business model of this industry. Government is changing heavily licence fees to operate this business and making use of the lose regulations internet service providers are exploiting customers by providing them with very poor service. They have very complex packaging systems and selling small chunks of data for high prices. They offer so called unlimited service in night time. The first step to delivering good internet service to customers is to review the current business models and setting up mandatory minimum service levels.

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Diminatha Saturday, 01 June 2024 12:05 PM

The issue if the high capital cost necessary to reach sparsely populated pockets. Satellite technology (beaming from above) overcomes that hurdle and also speeds up the process granting almost immediate service readiness state. There is no long process for acquiring lands and erecting pylons etc. leave aside the heavy capital outlay which may not be justified to serve a very small and sparse community.

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Tilak Friday, 31 May 2024 11:38 PM

What a stupid statement by Handunnetti! Typical frog in the well attitude.

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Yohan Friday, 31 May 2024 11:53 PM

Now anyone can understand why npp avoided economic debate. This fellow does not have any clue about the economy and no idea about the top businessman in the world. Old fashion idiotic mind set. Not suitable to even elect him to a local government body. No experience no knowledge but foolishness is at the highest level

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Dasun Arandarage Friday, 31 May 2024 11:53 PM

Ok. Same old mindset...

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A Saturday, 01 June 2024 01:04 AM

Gallery talk idiots

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Sam Saturday, 01 June 2024 02:45 AM

God bless Sri Lanka, if this guy become the Finance Miniger of Sri Lanka.

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No Proper Plan NPP Saturday, 01 June 2024 03:38 AM

JVP contributed to the destruction of our country with their negative thoughts leadership. They continue to do so. It's time the youth start putting pressure for all political parties to talk about solutions rather than portraying this country is carrying a 76 year curse. 8f we are cursed, remember we have democratically elected this curse upon us. in 2029 it will be the 81 year even if NPP or AKD wins in 2024! We must stop been negative. Demand fir solutions from handunetti

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Nobody Saturday, 01 June 2024 03:39 AM

Ha ha ha … Guess who opposed free wifi.. James packer casino?? Can I add tablets… It seems someone needs to remind this guy that his own party opposed those initiatives.. everyday they protest for everything and someone in the party should keep a Record…otherwise they make a fool of themselves..

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Aravinda Saturday, 01 June 2024 04:37 AM

This man is in nuts. How on earth are we gonna developed with this mentality…..

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Gunadasa Saturday, 01 June 2024 04:39 AM

Tell us what is your policy. Will NPP invite, discourage or ban foreign investment?

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NPPReality Saturday, 01 June 2024 04:54 AM

This party remains trapped in old communist ideologies. you cant even find them in its birthplaces, and investors like Elon are welcomed. On the other hand, NPP is one of the best options we have, but i doubt they know "economics" to rule a country. They will refuse to restructure loss-making government units and are dominated by unproductive labor unions.

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Citizen Saturday, 01 June 2024 05:34 AM

Hope people can see NPP's true colours in this article. Under NPP, Sri Lanka will go back to stone age!

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Ram Saturday, 01 June 2024 05:57 AM

Musk is a shrewd businessman who will not have any deal unless he is immensely benefitted. We must see the benefit to the country and not any benefit to the Politicians when dealing with Musk or any other businessman

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Kumara Saturday, 01 June 2024 12:07 PM

Neither would another other smart business person, unless it comes from a philanthropic organisation like the Bill Gates Foundation.

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Enaksha Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:23 AM

Here we go again. Is this a repeat of the MCC agreement drama, where we ended loosing out on a significant grant funding.

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Upul Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:27 AM

Why not also say why the 2015 Google proposal to facilitate free WiFi did not go ahead including the names if the actors who sabotaged the initiative. While he is at it also refresh our memories on who sabotaged the tablets to school kids initiative too around the same time.

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A. Umma Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:45 AM

Direct economic hitmen were Rajapakshas and their alleys, brought the Miracle that tightened voters stomochs. JVP used to be a strong promoter and supporter of the Rajapaksha,Chandrika Sandhanaya. During 2004-2010 Sandhana era with 39 JVP MPs in parliament, local economic hitmen involved in hedging gamble, Greek bonds, Mig deals, paddy mafia and neumerous other frauds while stealing from war related transactions. Army chief was locked up. JVP now point the finger at outsiders.

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:19 PM

JVP was the main economic hit man destroying properties and public busses , strikes , protests and you name it. Sri Lanka's cancer is JVP.

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Tissa Fernando Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:48 AM

Typical subversive disruptive mentality demontrated in this talk by JVP senior. God bless Sri Lanka if these guys are given power to run the country by the stupid voters.

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Man Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:48 AM

AKD started to say to distribute a meal per day at no cost. Till recently, they were against parties against making promises like that. So, NPP / JVP got a double standard from time to time. Economic debate evaded, too as a permanent policy. It is the No Policy Party (NPP) in every sense and heading for Gota part II.

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Senaka Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:55 AM

Lier ....your policies never able tto bring a single investor to this country.

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warren Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:02 AM

How can we progress with negative thinking guys like this? Always with a cynical mindset. Can you engage with people like Elon Mask? What do these people know? They know only to assassinate the first person who goes to polls to vote, collect NICs on the night before elections, manslaughter people who have ideas different to Marxist ideologies and force the innocent victims' families to carry the coffin below knee level, destroy public assets and disrupt the national education. We all witnessed these in the 88/89 period.

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elmo perera Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:04 AM

what about the Volkswagen plant fiasco

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Jude Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:05 AM

These investors want to exploit the natural resources and the human resources!!! These guys typical selfserving hypocrites!!

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Wera Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:25 AM

Ha Ha we can go back to the stone age with you lot. Looks like a large chunk of morons think that is a good idea

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Jayantha Saturday, 01 June 2024 07:51 AM

Head of economic comittee of NPP talks rubbish like an uneducated arrogant individual. These npp guys does not have any economic plan or even any plan to run a country. Just throws mud at everyone without any fact. This fellow should be sent back to school and he should consult a doctor. Probably degree is also a fake one taken with bribes. These guys getting exposed day by day and will again end up at 3 percent.

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Roshane Fernando Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:01 AM

Please stop using this word "Free".. stop giving free things in sri lanka this is on of the biggest downfall of this country.

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Jayantha Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:07 AM

Non of the three are economic hitmens. They are businessmans and investors in various industries. Elon was the founder of paypal. Current owner of Tesla, Space X and X social media network etc. Soros is a trader and investor with years of experience. James Packer is an investor in multi sectors. Then Hadun Kayyanayaka is an arrogant and a guy who cannot even communicate in english but mislead the nation with wrong information in sinhala. He does not do a job or a business but get everything free from his friend Jayashantha according to him. So how can a person who cannot even survive on his own handle a country. Lol

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Chux Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:16 AM

This man has no clue on what’s happening in world economy absolute idiot

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Gp Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:24 AM

I don't see anything wrong in inviting Investors...

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Jeevester Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:26 AM

The JVP were the economic hit men in the late 80’s ! with destruction of public property. Affecting our main exports, infrastructure, transportation , killing of intellectuals and administrators and security forces personnel. Does the JVP feel that others have short memories ?

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Patriot Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:35 AM

Says someone who's hiding from a debate

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Leo Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:40 AM

How funny, James packer was ready to invest but you guys made a huge public movement against his investment.

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JeffK Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:41 AM

Sends me shivers that some idiots are ready to make this guy the next finance minister.

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sarath Saturday, 01 June 2024 09:06 AM

so what do you want to do? Continue to beg from everyone and struggle to repay loans and not pay any income tax. Is that your economic model for good governance

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Ruwan Saturday, 01 June 2024 09:11 AM

This fool doesn't even know that Starlink is not a WiFi provider, and that it provides Internet facilities. Wonder who the businessmen were that he spoke to. Didn't anyone there even know that? From this alone we can assume that the NPP/JVP will also beat Former FM Cabral's performance.

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Raven Saturday, 01 June 2024 09:25 PM

Yeah. We'll have to get ready for a "Uma Oya part 2" series soon.

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Nihal S Saturday, 01 June 2024 10:04 AM

Best if your guys do not talk much between now and the elections.

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Sampath Saturday, 01 June 2024 10:09 AM

Jayantha, it's your people who have ruined the country for 7 decades and now you expect us to elect them further and ruin the country to extinction.We have no choice but NPP and if they get elected and don't deliver, nature will take them out. So, we have to try them and see.

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Ruwan Saturday, 01 June 2024 12:11 PM

Sorry you got your math wrong. It only 5 decades since the 1971 insurrection by the JVP. More recent than you say.

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Man Sunday, 02 June 2024 06:16 AM

NPP who just have hollow and mighty talks but No Action or No Policy Party (NPP) ? Disastrous and heading for Gota part II. The selection must be based who works in the opposition or not. Nothing to try and see a bankrupt country. That's the choice must be made.

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Sunil Saturday, 01 June 2024 11:26 AM

I am for an open economy and free flow of goods and capital. But what has happened after 1977 is the worst scenario of a open economy- created mega rich who own conglomerates, weakened the poor man further by removing all available protections such as marketing department salusala etc etc, exploited the employees by paying wages not aligned to inflation, sold state assets for a song and got fat commissions, no proper authority to monitor Foreign Investors here. Everything is in a mess. Do people want this, never

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Cecil Saturday, 01 June 2024 11:56 AM

Definitely agree. Elon represents the concept of wealth. Wealth is a bad thing and we should discourage it. It is against our culture. We are simple people and we should remain like this; caring and sharing for each other, worshipping parents and monks, eating rice etc. This will bring PIN

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Devaka Saturday, 01 June 2024 08:06 PM

Comments could not get more idiotic than this brother!

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Dee Saturday, 01 June 2024 12:07 PM

High chances of them running away from Sri Lanka. When they hear that the people are going to vote in n for a bunch of subversives to run the country!

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Anil Saturday, 01 June 2024 12:38 PM

What does this guy knows about Elon Musk, let alone USA. He can fool some of the people all the time.

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John Perera Saturday, 01 June 2024 01:58 PM

Elon Musk manufactures cars in China. Apple has been diversifying its operations away from China, working with assembly and component manufacturing partners in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. We should know how to reach agreements that benefit us. People don't come here to give everything away free.

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Ganesh Saturday, 01 June 2024 03:07 PM

No where in the world is a Wi-Fi Service provided free of cost. However, starlink would be a much better option than the two ISP's Dialog and SLT that fleece people with confusing internet packages and business practices. NPP, stop being the the proverbial spanner in the works.

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ආශ්චර්‍ය් Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:28 PM

@Sampath Yes, JVP's 'Nature' policy reflected well in the millenia. They had to waite, nature to remove Rajapakshas who acted like draconian dictators amending JR's dictatorial constitution. Presidents who came to power with JVP support in 1994 and 2005 raped the constitution much more than it's founder RW"s beloved Uncle JR, Premadasa or Wijetunga. That is why millenial JVP is famous in this modern era as a political(non terrorist) group, not capable to wrap even a Thala-Kerella. Eventhough they are commendabe in uncovering corruption, they cannot handle the bankrupt economy same as Gota

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ROSH Saturday, 01 June 2024 06:52 PM

Of course unelected master debating president loves opening doors to his mile high club as he loves developing internal work on his steamy bed without his trousers on. Of course we must build his statue to celebrate his external work on normal folks who are struggling to walk

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Bad Saturday, 01 June 2024 10:04 PM

This is a standard thinking of avarage uneducated SRI Lankans, JVP, NPP and corrupt Rajapaksas. Bagging from other countries and share the money with all 225 MP‘s and family. Don’t invite private investors, otherwise SRI Lankans have to work hard . This is the reason SRI Lankans are so poor

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SLEx Sunday, 02 June 2024 09:59 AM

Gona, you are exactly what your name says. The fuel price is according to market rates now. All you Gonas were enjoying petrol on the tax payers money. You all knew that previous govts were subsidising it for votes, and you Gonas continued to vote. Now you are facing the consequences of your buffoonery. Now that you have to pay what its actually worth, coming and talking nonsense. Showing idiocy by telling others not to show it. Typical Gona.

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