The Island:
Healthcare Minister Maithrepala Sirisena enjoys a pinch of Thriposa with Deputy Healthcare Minister Lalith Dissanayaka and Secretary to the Healthcare Ministry Dr. Ravindra Ruberu.
Healthcare Minister Maithripala Sirisena says several major public sector organizations are on the verge of collapse due to inefficiency, poor management and negligence.
The SLFP General Secretary says public sector employees in spite of receiving a range of benefits have failed to perform.
The Minister was addressing a gathering after the takeover by the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd, at Kandana last week.
The public sector had failed to deliver, in spite of the government’s efforts to turn around some State institutions.
The Minister lashed out at the top level management for failing to give leadership to workers. He said that the UNP and the PA had sold many profitable state-sector enterprises to thier kith and kin at the expense of the public.
Praising the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike for strengthening the national economy, Minister Sirisena alleged that both UNP and PA leadership had collaborated with a section of the private sector to change the ownership of public sector enterprises. Successive governments had disposed of all profitable ventures, some of them to their relatives, friends and associates.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa would make an effort to regain what had been sold over the years. The recent taking-over of Shell Gas Company by the government was an example, Minister Sirisena said.
He said that approximately 7, 50,000 pregnant mothers and infants with vitamin deficiencies would be able to obtain Thriposa free of charge. The company would produce 15, 00,000 packets of Thriposa packets annually, he said adding that it was 60 per cent of the total production capacity. The government would spend Rs. 125 million annually to produce Thriposa, he said.