We didn’t sell national resources – Kabir

By Nabiya Vaffoor

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kabir Hashim, said the Good Governance Government did not sell or auction any national resources, instead, they were drowning in debt taken by the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Government.

He said this in response to a question raised by a journalist regarding the claims of the Government’s representatives, that it is the UNF Government which sold many national resources.

“Hambantota Port was supposed to be re-constructed at a sum of US$ 850 million, but a loan of US$ 1,100 million had been taken, nobody knows what happened to the rest of the amount. When the Hambantota Port was handed over to China, defence of the seaside around it was also handed over to China instead of the Sri Lanka Navy. Because of that they were left with debt and made a huge loss. Our government didn’t have any other option, but extending the leasing years of that agreement,” he said.

Meanwhile, SJB MP Thalatha Athukorala, said it has been more than a year since Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as President, but yet he has failed to launch any successful programmes.

“Other countries rely on the taxes that are paid by people and not by expecting a higher range of taxes from low and middle income earners. Once this President was appointed, that system was abolished. The Government pushed the country to the current situation by focusing on taking revenge, instead of focusing on the survival of the country,” Athukorala alleged.

Athukorala and Hashim said so yesterday (19), at a Media briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo.