The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) stated that it is best to appoint an expert committee to look into the planned privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and take further steps according to its recommendations.

Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security Chairman Government Parliamentarian Rear Admiral (Retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera, presenting a committee report, recently informed the Parliament that the committee would not recommend the privatisation of the SLT as it poses a threat to national security.

When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire into the matter, SLPP General Secretary and MP attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said that they are of the view that the Government should consider global trends as well as what is best for the people when making a decision on the matter. “If something poses a threat to national security, we, as the ruling party, will not allow it. Therefore, it is best to appoint an expert committee, and take further steps as per its recommendations.”

In the wake of the SOC on National Security stating that it will not recommend privatising SLT, as matters sensitive to national security could be exposed, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies recently stated that they were not ready to reverse its reform agenda for any reason. Speaking to The Daily Morning, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said that the Government could assure that nothing harmful to the country’s national security would take place during and after the SLT privatisation process.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Media Division stated last week that it had been revealed during a session of the National Security Council that the SOC on National Security had not made any inquiry from the relevant authorities responsible for national security before preparing the report in question.