Govt. on wonderful spending: NTUC

1 March 2012 09:18 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Trade unions today charged that the government invested an exorbitant amount of funds on wasteful ventures that did not generate any income but failed to provide fuel at a lowers cost to boost the country’s production which could uplift the peoples lives.

National Trade Union Center (NTUC) Chief K.D Lal Kantha said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, the Norochcholia power plant, the Hambantota port, the Deyata Kirula exhibition the beautification of Colombo and other projects that did not generate any income despite the heavy expenditure spent on them.

“These projects are all ambitious ones that look wonderful to the eye. But what good does it do to our country if they do not generate an income after spending millions on them. Ultimately it is the people who have to pay for them and they cannot do so because their wages are so low,” Lal Kantha said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

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Comments - 20

j Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:36 PM

Agreed except Colombo renovations, in principle the Government shall not be involved in doing business, making profit (Income) is private sectors task government have to regulate and get TAX from it. Main reason of most of the government projects are getting Commissions and earn monies secretly.

Anonymous Friday, 02 March 2012 07:09 AM

Are you joking? So by that argument government can just spend the taxpayers money and not worry about making profits while the private sector slaves away to make money for the country... All ministries and departments should be making profit if they are managed properly and the treasury is supposed to use that money for development projects without begging for funds from other countries... that's how countries like Singapore ans Malaysia are run...

soloman Friday, 02 March 2012 06:32 AM

If companies which were under performing were taken over by the govt. then how is it that Mihin Air is still functioning with losses mounting to Rs. billions?

lame Friday, 02 March 2012 02:09 AM

If Hambantota port succeeds (very outside chance), it takes business away from Colombo port where we are also spending a lot of money to fix up. Why are we creating entities that are run by the same company (i.e. the government) and are competing with each other? That doesn't make any business sense.

boieng Thursday, 01 March 2012 02:17 PM

yes.... yes... MIHIN LANKA is taking off by poor srilankans blood.... waste waste

j Thursday, 01 March 2012 01:45 PM

We nned Coal Power but this Construction was in very much poor Specification.

Nodrog Thursday, 01 March 2012 01:43 PM

Some are good and some are bad but the JVP also contributes to the wastage by all the strikes and protests which accounts for loss of productivity

sdherath Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:55 PM

they are not waste of money, they are essential except dayata kirula, but the process is wrong, the mechanisms are wrong.

Muniwara Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:58 PM

Today have only 15000 rooms & will need another 20000 by 2016. See how many jobs will create. Commercialization only give beauty to the world. 200 years ago there was no New York, Sydney, London...as Today. See what is given for Singapore, KL, Bangkok for the last 30 years thanks to Commercialization. But agreed should not destroy any natural beauty and everything has a limit. Open Economy has created more & more openings to people to enjoy better.

Navin Thursday, 01 March 2012 09:54 AM

Partially agree - Deyata Kirula, Hambantota Port, Airport and Cricket stadiums so far nothing but a huge waste of money. But Colombo beautification and Norochcholai power plant- we can't be a tourist destination if our capital city is a garbage dump without lighting.

ase Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:34 PM

do we need commenwelth games ????
coal power plantes, old air polluters those are banned even from china ??? there arefar more effective methodes
deyata kirula is ok if the monies usued for a proper way, is it so ???
hambantota as well as mattegoda, huge failiers, future berdons for generations ike mihin lanka
colombo butification should be for us and not for suddas tourism will not last for ever, detinations chages.

this country shold be devoloped for us and for our kids, but where ????
all talk about patrotisom but where ????
what we need is to devolope the country from inside and not bloody showes or projects for no use.

Lanka Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:28 PM

Missed 2 - Mihin Air and Nelun Pokuna . What a waste !

kumisura Thursday, 01 March 2012 12:02 PM

2.5 million tourists by 2016! Yes, cater for them & forget the people of the country. Alienate from Sti Lankans more & more of their land (see what is happening to the precious islands everywhere here), commercialise and devastate more and more of the few remaining beauty spots and protected areas, create larger and larger fortunes for the powerful few,and strand the many in increasingly desperate situations, or re-colonise them as grateful attendants upon the wealthier visitors.

Muniwara Thursday, 01 March 2012 11:16 AM

Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium - That was the only physical structure available for Commonwealth Bid for 2018.

Norochcholia power plant - requirement was raised by CEB on 1987. But present Gov. only manage to do it. Hambantota port - 02nd phase will complete only 2015.

Deyata Kirula exhibition - The Marketting Campain of MR Gov. Without Marketing no Votes. beautification of Colombo - 2.5M Tourists by 2016 and whatsoever excellent work.

Calistus Jayatilleke Thursday, 01 March 2012 11:03 AM

Absolutely correct. But such projects generate high levels of commissions and kickbacks unlike welfare measures aimed at relieving the suffering of the people.

ind Thursday, 01 March 2012 11:13 AM

I don't agree with Hambantota port as waste of money. For the moment yes, but in the long run it should be very important place on the international maritime route.

saman Thursday, 01 March 2012 10:18 AM

I think Government should reconsider to be held Dayata Kirula.

manike Thursday, 01 March 2012 10:11 AM

Agree with you. Earlier you cannot walk on the streets of Colombo, garbage dumped everywhere and used to get a foul smell. At least that problem is addressed. Some dilapidated roads too has been repaired but stagnated water in the drains should be looked into to eradicate dengue menace. Mihin Air is another waste of tax payers money.

MIFAz Thursday, 01 March 2012 09:55 AM

Colombo beautification - should not only concentrate on removing the dirt but should have a mecanisium to dipose.

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Govt. on wonderful spending: NTUC

Comments - 20

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