The Sevanagala and Pelwatte Sugar Factories which had been sold for a mere pittance earned a profit of 1486 million rupees last year after being reacquired by the present Government.
A pledge given to the people in the Mahinda Chinthana that profits would be earned from state establishment sold by previous administrations for a mere sum and re-investing in the Government, has already been honoured. The Sevanagala Sugar Factory was retaken by the Government on 11th November 2011. The Government succeeded in making it a profit earning institution within two years and guaranteeing the security of all workers and the services of the farmers.
The handing over of the benefits secured from this significant achievement to the workers and the farmer community took place under the patronage of President Rajapaksa at the Sevanagala Sugar Factory. The profit earned by the Sevanagala and Pelwatte factories last year was 1486 million rupees.
20 percent of the incentives and benefits were distributed among the employees and the farmers.
Expressing his views on the occasion, the President emphasized that the cause for prevailing economic development and massive development in the country was not the policy of living by selling state institutions unlike previous administrations.
The President said that the granting of incentives is a new message. This is an institution which was sold for a mere pittance saying it was running at a loss. The Government acquired it again after 10 years. The President said that after two and a half years it was transformed into a viable venture. This is a news report. The President said that the media should give wide publicity to this news report. As it would become a model for other establishments. After assuming power the Government did not deprive the country of establishments. The Government is totally against the privatization of state institutions as it witnessed the repercussions and the disasters the people faced as a result. There was more than 300 million rupees in fixed deposits. There was sugar worth more than 250 million rupees. The management did not consider the workers and the cultivators.
The President mentioned that they had now re-built the factory after two years. He said that not only the cultivators but the jobs of the workers have been consolidated. It was not only this establishment that was sold. The Sri Lankan Airlines, the Insurance Corporation, the Gas Company and Telecom were sold. The Government has retaken these institutions. As a result they have been able to rebuild the country’s economy. The country has now developed. They had trust in the national wealth than international advice and banks. The President said this is an honour received for their sweat. He called on the workers to advance protecting their workplace.
Ministers Lakshman Seneviratne, Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa, Sumedha Jayasena and Jagath Pushpakumara, Uva Governor Nanda Mathew, Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, Parliamentarian Vijith Weragoda and several political representatives were present on the occasion.
Immediately after the function the President exchanged pleasantries with those who had come to the grounds.
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