Govt. only harping on selling sans most important IMF proposals: Champika

• Says it is the government’s responsibility to educate the people about the IMF programme

By Ajith Siriwardana

The government was harping only on selling government property, excluding the most important proposals made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.
He told a news conference that if the government ventures were handed over to the private sector, there must be a strong regulation mechanism and some independent regulatory authorities.

The MP said the government ventures that should be closed down, amalgamated, privatized and continued under state ownership should be identified through a management auditing process.

He also said it is the responsibility of the government to educate the people about the IMF programme and added that the government must enter into discussions with all the parties, including the trade unions.

“As the IMF stresses, the government’s procurement process should be transparent, and all details should be revealed,” he said.