news
Can revival of SOEs create the opportunity to alleviate the crushing debt burden?
Pathfinder Economic Alert: Proposal for budget speech
The Government of Sri Lanka has announced that it will implement reforms and strategies to revive state-owned enterprises (SOEs), while maintaining its policy decision to discontinue privatisation. Effective implementation of the proposed reforms would increase the value of SOEs. An important issue to be addressed is whether this creates an opportunity to raise financing for alleviating the country’s onerous debt burden. The crushing effects of this debt burden on the people of this country has been demonstrated by the constrained response of the Government in protecting people and livelihoods during the pandemic.
Sri Lanka’s fiscal stimulus as a percentage of GDP has been significantly lower than comparable countries. The Central Bank and a well-capitalized banking system have been able to step into the breach. However, the impact of the burden imposed on the capital adequacy of the banking system will only be known after the moratoriums are lifted. The Government’s success in containing the pandemic (March – September 2020) was a major positive factor in coping with its unprecedented effects, particularly through the early opening up of the economy.
This note argues that the Government’s efforts to reform SOEs creates an opportunity to address the onerous debt burden by selling public assets. Where the Government intends to retain control, it can consider selling minority stakes. However, there is a strong case for the sale of assets like the Hilton and Hyatt hotels once market conditions become more favourable. The emergence of a vaccine that is 90 percent effective is likely to accelerate the bounce back of the hotel and tourism sector
The Government is seeking to introduce a holistic programme of reform for improving the management of SOEs. In doing so, there is merit in drawing on the Statements of Intent (SOIs) drawn up by the major SOEs in recent years. The current initiative is pushing for the professionalization of the management of SOEs through rigorous recruitment schemes and capacity building in order to promote prudent decision-making and operational efficiency. The upgraded management teams will be called upon to develop medium-term strategic plans which identify growth strategies, including through business process engineering, mergers and amalgamations. These new business models are expected to respond to emerging opportunities in the post-pandemic world and meet challenges particularly in relation to logistics and supply chain resilience. Each SOE will also be expected to develop robust key performance indicators. In addition, monitoring mechanisms are to be established at the line ministries and Treasury.
An important gap in the proposed reforms relates to pricing policy. The largest proportion of the losses incurred by SOEs is attributable to pricing policy. Economic services (CPC, CEB, SLTB, SLR and NWS&DB) are provided below cost. There is a considerable body of empirical research which demonstrates that such subsidies are a very inefficient means of supporting the poor and vulnerable. In practice, they tend to benefit higher income groups disproportionately. It is more effective to provide a social safety net through a well-designed and targeted income transfer scheme. The highly inefficient (poorly designed and poorly targeted) Samurdhi Programme should be reformed to achieve this objective. This would provide greater leeway for adopting pricing policies that do not impose an unsustainable burden on the Government Budget and /or balance sheets of state banks. The current subsidy-based model of delivering economic services is no longer affordable given the highly constrained fiscal space and the debt dynamics which threaten the well being of the people.
The Pathfinder Foundation is concerned that the lack of fiscal space and the possibility of a debt crisis highlights the unsustainability of the Government being the employer of first resort. Sri Lanka’s post-colonial history involves the commitment of successive governments to creating unproductive public sector employment. However, the current highly constrained fiscal space calls for a radical re-think of the traditional approach of the Government being the employer of first resort. Historically, successive governments have been unwilling or unable to introduce economic reforms that would increase gainful employment outside the government sector. For SOE reforms to be effective, there should be complementary policies which generate productive employment opportunities thoughout the economy.
The Way Forward
The agenda for reforming SOEs includes the following: improved corporate governance; appointment of competent CEOs; recruitment of qualified professionals for procurement, finance, human resource development and other key management positions; adoption of realistic pricing policies and investment strategies; institutionalizing performance audit and financial management controls; and expenditure management. Success depends on taking tough decisions. It is noteworthy that governments, such as Norway and Abu Dhabi, have refused to provide additional financial support to their national airlines even though these two jurisdictions have two of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Yet Sri Lanka, despite its parlous public finances, has not been able to take tough decisions in relation to its national carrier.
Successful implementation of SOE reforms will reduce the burden on the budget and strengthen state bank balance sheets. In addition, the valuation of these enterprises will be enhanced and the opportunity will be created to consider very seriously how a programme of asset disposal can contribute to alleviating the unsustainable debt burden. This course of action would be a less painful option for the general public than raising taxes or cutting priority expenditure.
Consideration should be given to categorizing state-owned assets into those which can be sold outright, such as the Hilton and Hyatt hotels. A second category could be assets which can generate considerable financing for the Government through the sale of minority stakes. For instance, the sale of 10-15 percent of the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank would generate a considerable amount of money. Part of this can be allocated to the employees of the institutions. Furthermore, if these stakes are sold through the stock market, the listing regulations would result in disclosure requirements which would improve corporate governance. There could be a third category of public assets for which the Government can decide there should be no change in ownership structure.
A separate vehicle can be created (similar to a sinking fund) into which the sale proceeds can be credited. These funds can be earmarked solely for the purpose of debt-management. The timing of such transactions should be determined by the improvement in market conditions. It would be timely to commence thinking about such an initiative at a time when sentiment and confidence, at home and abroad, is being boosted by the emergence of a vaccine which is over 90 percent effective.
The Pathfinder Foundation believes that the Budget Speech (Nov 17, 2020) provides an opportunity for the Government to elaborate on such a programme which offers the prospect of reducing the debt burden in a manner that contains the pain inflicted on the people of Sri Lanka. Such a programme will also transmit a positive signal to investors and creditors, both at home and abroad, as well as to rating agencies thereby increasing the credit worthiness of the country.
This is a PATHFINDER ALERT of the Pathfinder Foundation. Readers’ comments are welcome at www.pathfinderfoundation.org
Author
- News Advertiesment
See Kapruka’s top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka’s unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.
Author
-
sdfsdf sdf sf sf sdf sf sdf
Author
PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
Author
By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
