Security firms demand:
Ombudsman to overrule obstructing bureaucrats
Chairman and Managing Director, Security Consultants and
Investigators International (Pvt) Ltd. and Past President, Industrial
Security Foundation, Sri Lanka, F. N. de Alwis in a public statement has
called for the appointment of an ombudsman to overrule obstructing
bureaucrats.
The text of the statement:
President Maithripala Sirisena has declared at various business fora
and public meetings that his Government encourages investment and
provide incentives to locals and foreigners to invest in the private
sector to create more employment, provide incentives to entrepreneurs to
increase government revenue and thereby implement development policies
and counter the cost of living
A gazette notification published intentionally or unintentionally has
caused an impediment to many bonafide security organisations who are
venturing out to upgrade the standard of industrial security with
investors from foreign countries. Gazette Notification No. 1737/9 of
December 20, 2011 debars foreigners investing above 40% in an existing
security company.
If foreigners are permitted to invest in this country in the banking,
hospitality, IT, advertising, training, manufacturing, airlines and
shipping, one cannot understand why industrial security must not be
permitted to progress ensuring that they contribute toward the
sophistication and development of the trade which will eventually bring
greater benefits in terms of money, equipment and knowledge and
sophistication in the systems and methods to counteract crime.
The President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers who are
knowledgeable will, I am sure, not permit bureaucrats to obstruct their
vision in developing the country while encouraging foreign investment.
An effective mechanism consisting of a team of experts must ensure
that the economic policy of the Government and its vision is not
nullified. A team with power to overrule the obstructing bureaucrats in
the form of an ombudsman with easy access to the President and the Prime
Minister and take decisions with speed is the best solution.
All security companies registered under the Ministry of Defence
should have equal opportunity to have foreign partners to develop
industrial security, as some companies were permitted to operate with
foreign partners before the Gazette notification.
It is unfortunate that the bureaucracy always obstructs the
development and progress of the country creating impediments and causing
frustration in those willing to invest having proved their bonafides. |