Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the state sector must be downscaled and be made more efficient. He said over the years politicians have used the state sector to provide employment to their supporters.

“Out of every Rs. 100 coming into the treasury, Rs. 58 is spent on salaries and pensions of state sector employees. Every election application is accepted to provide employment opportunities.,” he said. Dissanayake recalled how supporters were asked to fill out application forms for jobs at the Hambantota port during the election period.

The leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) party however stressed that state sector institutions are not organisations existing to merely provide employment to supporters of a particular political party. He made these comments during a party electoral organising meeting held in Ambalantota this week.

Presenting the University of Jayawardenapura as an example, Dissanayake said political supporters have been provided employment in excess of the requirement for entry-level jobs. “There are 600 academic staff at the university while it has over 4000 non-academic staff. The bottom level of the state sector is inundated with staff,” he pointed out. Setting out another example, Dissanayake said five buses leave Matara daily with workers bound for the Colombo harbour after they were employed by a politician who hailed from the area during his tenure as Minister of Ports. He also accused Sajith Premadasa of hiring 3000 employees after conducting personal interviews during his tenure as Minister of Housing. According to him, the public now believes they must vote for a particular politician in order to secure a job.

“The real purpose of state sector agencies is to support the country’s economy. Once the economy is developed then job opportunities will invariably be created,” he added.

Dissanayake said Sri Lanka’s state sector must be downscaled and be made more efficient to provide people with a speedy service. “The current state sector is inefficient due to the political appointments. It has collapsed due to the acts of politicians,” he said. Dissanayake said when the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna was part of the government back in 2004, only the most suitable persons were appointed to government agencies under JVP Ministers and not due to any personal friendship or favours. The NPP leader said under a government formed by the party, state agencies will be made efficient and profitable.