Amunugama says down with state monopolies!

Tuesday, 22 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Cheranka Mendis

A public view must be formed to break through the economic monopoly that exists in the country in areas such as power and energy to better the future and move forward in a competitive, result-driven state.

International Monetary and Cooperation Senior Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minster Dr. Sarath Amunugama yesterday noted that the monopoly must be broken through with new knowledge acquired through analysing and testing.

Amunugama...

“Do we need a monopoly? How do we go forward without competition? Why is the State sector scared of competition? A public view must be formed to break through the economic monopoly and move forward,” Dr. Amunugama said.

Towards this end, the Electricity Board must also change its policies and encourage short and medium term power plants run and owned by the private sector, he expressed.

“My opinion is that the Electricity Board must change such policies and go for a policy that promotes short and medium term power plants. These must be given to the private sector.”

He added that policies that promote Government institutions holding on to all aspects of sectors, creating inefficiency and losses for the country, must be changed. “We always think we must do everything – from making the electricity towers, power plants, dams everything,” he asserted. “We cannot give one body to do everything. The inefficiencies of the Government institutes end up as a red warning letter to citizens.”