Amend Revival of the Underperforming and Underutilised Assets Bill: UNP

The main opposition UNP has decided to ask the government to amend the Revival of the Underperforming and Underutilised Assets Bill excluding the properties of some companies from the list of 37 ventures to be acquired, the party said today.

The Bill, if passed in Parliament, will empower the state to acquire 37 private establishments which the government has cited as underperforming or underutilsed.

Among these ventures, are the land properties of the Sevanagala Sugar Company owned by UNP organiser for Ampara, Daya Gamage and the Pellawatte Sugar Factory belonging to business tycoon Harry Jayawardane.

A UNP MP who wished to remain anonymous told the Daily Mirror that his party was totally opposed to this legislation.

“In principal, we are totally against the bill. We want to apply pressure on the government to withdraw it.  If the government is determined to go ahead despite our objection, we will propose at least to amend the bill excluding some of these ventures from the list. The Sevenagala Sugar Factory is one which, needs to be excluded from the list,” he said.

Also, he said that the UNP would propose to exclude the Ceylinco Leisure Company and the Pelawatte Sugar Factory from the list.

He said that the UNP would bring in an amendment to the bill during the debate next Wednesday. (Kelum Bandara)