Sri Lanka It's Happening

June 23, 2004

"As Finance minister I am burdened to look after four monsters namely the CPC (Ceylon Petrolium Corporation), the CEB (Ceylon Electricity Board) the CTB (Central Transport Board) and the CGR (Ceylon General Rail)."

That ladies and gentlemen was the minister of Finance Dr Sarath Amunugama, delivered at a workshop in Colombo. Parts of the speech were shown on television and given wide coverage in the newspapers. You would have read my varius posts about the ceylon electricity board and the ministry of power and energy. well now you have an independent verification.

Both the CEB and CPC both come under the purview of the ministry of power and energy. That minister was interviewed on television yesterday and he made a valiant effort to defend these organizations and staff.

This is what the minister of Finanace has to say about people who attempt to defend these organizations:

"These institutions are models of inefficiency, corruption and lack of planning. Some new members of the government are beginning to talk like their predecessors. They are trying to defend the indefensible organizations."

Dr Amunugama was one of the strongest critics of the previous UNP government, now it looks like he may have earned the wrath of his own collegues who promised thousands of new jobs in government organization to their followers.

Posted by raditha at June 23, 2004 4:21 AM