LEN - www.lankaenews.com | Let's Put an End to the Sale of National Assets! Hand Over the Country to a Leader Who Protects Our Nation Like a Precious Gem!

Let's Put an End to the Sale of National Assets! Hand Over the Country to a Leader Who Protects Our Nation Like a Precious Gem!

-Written by a Special Contributor

(Lanka-e-News -17.Sep.2024, 11.30 pm) You may recall the remarkable inscriptions once found on bus chassis during a certain era: "This chassis was made at the Werahera Central Workshop." The hardworking Werahera Central Workshop began to cry out like a raven after 1977. It became a gambling ground for corrupt politicians in Kesbewa. The great workshop was filled with unqualified cronies. The discipline essential to any institution eroded to the extreme. Along with it, theft, corruption, and misuse of resources surged. Lawlessness reigned. The raven wept for the workshop. When losses accumulate, selling becomes easy. For politicians, the only justification for privatization is when losses mount. In the late 1990s, this great workshop was privatized, rebranded with the appealing name LATEC (Lanka Automotive Technologies Engineering Corporation), and privatization was justified by deceitful claims that efficiency would be increased, and services would be elevated to international standards. The institution was sold to a vile thief. The sale of essential assets of the workshop began. This excellent resource, which produced bus chassis and greatly supported the national passenger transport system, including the CTB, was destroyed. Like shredded paper, clay, steel, thin planks, and cement, Werahera was also included in the top of the list of ruined industries.

Reflecting on how unscrupulous politicians and their cronies destroyed this, I felt compelled to remind everyone of this forgotten tale, as now is the perfect time to do so.

What Should Be Done When Facing Losses?

Our country is rich with management courses. Therefore, we have an abundance of human resources with good knowledge of management. However, the inept leaders lack the intelligence to utilize such human resources. Instead of selling assets when losses occur, the focus should have been on finding methods to minimize losses, applying the right mechanisms, and implementing corrective actions with proper supervision. Afterward, the strategies to turn a loss-making institution into a profitable one should have been pursued. If properly managed, today the Werahera Central Workshop could have become an advanced industrial complex with new technology. In addition to bus chassis, it could have produced other motor vehicles, provided services, and manufactured spare parts, offering numerous services under one roof. It could have become a major industrial hub in South Asia.

If a technical college had been established on that site, offering advanced courses with practical training, the nation could have created a wealth of skilled human resources, benefiting not only the country but the world as well. Had that been done, many of the young workers currently toiling in three-wheelers would today be providing high-quality services both locally and internationally as skilled technicians, running successful businesses and living better lives.

Let the Fate of LATEC Not Befall Our Failing Airline!

Sri Lanka's national airline plays a crucial role in accelerating the country's economy, particularly in the development of tourism. Furthermore, a national airline is a symbol of national pride, bringing great honor to the country. For a small nation like ours to maintain a national airline as a profitable institution, it must be carefully and efficiently managed due to the competitiveness of the aviation industry and the challenge of achieving profitability with a small fleet.

Air Ceylon became Air Lanka, which eventually transformed into Sri Lankan. Later, a new logo of the 'Dandu Monara' (Flying Chariot of King Ravana) was introduced for more speed. Many mockingly refer to it as "Diya Bariya" (Water Carrier). It’s said that if King Ravana had ridden this 'Dandu Monara', he would have fallen off before even taking off. Looking at the current state of the airline, one might think that it's time to prevent any further tarnishing of Ravana’s character.

The national airline continues to accumulate billions in losses year after year. Plans are in the works to privatize it. How can a country that cannot manage its own national airline continue to call itself a country? Many smaller nations with even smaller fleets are able to maintain their national airlines with high-quality service. Even though our country is rich in human resources with managerial expertise, our airline is run by old crooks. Even our airports are playgrounds for local politicians in the Katunayake area. We should be surprised only if the airline doesn’t lose money.

The Oil Tank Complex – To Sell or to Preserve?

The oil tank complex in Trincomalee is a national asset rotting away. It was built during 1942-1944 using top-grade steel, painted with rust-resistant coatings, and equipped with cathodic protection to prevent corrosion. Despite the rail tracks along the coastal line constantly requiring replacement due to proximity to the sea, these tanks are still in good condition for use. A portion of these valuable oil tanks, located near the port, were leased to the Indian Oil Company. If 33 of these tanks had been handed over to the Army, Air Force, and Navy’s mechanical divisions for maintenance, they would have proudly taken responsibility and handed them back to the nation in pristine condition. If any technical knowledge were required, there are both local and international patriots who would provide it for free. Necessary resources could be found somehow.

Shall We Sell Our Oil Sheds and Then Buy Fuel from Them?

Some of the country’s oil sheds have been sold. It is easy to give them away, but taking them back will be difficult. National security is at risk. Our country has been so weakened that we cannot even distribute the little fuel we import or manage a few oil sheds. Those who donned the white attire of patriotism are extinguishing the fire of the CEPETCO torch forever.

For a country or an institution to develop, discipline must first exist. Both leaders and the public must respect the law. Theft, corruption, and misuse of resources must be eliminated. The Werahera Central Workshop was destroyed, and the oil corporation and airline incur losses due to regional politicians and the political elites they protect.

Final Hour – Let Us Entrust Our Nation to a Leader Who Guards It Like a Gem!

Let us endure a few more days to put an end to this degrading political system. The upcoming September 21st is the day of reckoning. The victory we secure in front of 'Maalimaawa' will be a victory for our motherland. By securing this victory, we will safeguard our remaining national resources. The motherland we entrust will be protected like a precious gem by the people's leadership led by Brother Anura.