Sri Lanka’s Joint Dedicated Economic Centres Limited and the Manning Trade Union have opposed a government plan to transfer the management of 14 key economic centres to a private company, warning of islandwide protests and legal action if the proposal is not withdrawn.
At a press conference held in Dambulla, representatives from the trade unions and economic centre associations accused the government of advancing the privatisation move without transparency, due consultation, or adherence to proper procedures.
According to the unions, a Cabinet Memorandum has been submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development proposing the leasing of 14 out of 18 national economic centres to a single private entity.
“This is a betrayal of the farming community and the national interest. If the government does not withdraw this memorandum, we are prepared to shut down all 14 economic centres and launch nationwide protests,” Chairman of the Joint Trade Association Rohana Bandara said.
The organisations also indicated their readiness to pursue legal action and directly engage with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to halt an attempt to hand over critical public infrastructure to an unregistered and possibly unqualified private company.
Union leaders questioned why vital national assets built and maintained through public funds should be handed to a private party without a competitive process or public disclosure.
They emphasised that any reform must prioritise the livelihoods of farmers, the rights of workers, and the long-term interests of the national economy.
Calling for immediate dialogue, the unions urged both the Minister and the President to intervene and protect the public trust placed in the country’s economic centres, which play a central role in food distribution, agricultural trade, and rural economic stability.
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