State sector must be resuscitated

DEW Gunasekera - Senior Minister Human Resource Development, Chairman COPE Committee and General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Q: The COPE report presented to Parliament as Chairman of COPE by you, drew the attention of all the MPs irrespective of the government or the Opposition. What is your general opinion about the public sector?

A: The State sector needs to be resuscitated because there is a certain amount of lethargy on the part of the workers.

The state sector has been confronted with inefficiency and incompetence paving the way for waste and corruption.

It should be reformed and restructured so that these institutions will service the people.

More international airports soon

Priyankara Jayaratne - MP, Aviation Minister,

Q: Young being a young MP in the present Parliament holding a key portfolio. You are in charge of the aviation sector. What are your future plans?

A: We are planning to increase the number of flights to the UK, India and Ukraine.

The flights to Delhi will be increased from 2 to 14 and to Chennai to 42. The SriLankan Airlines has also increased the fleet to 20 aircraft.

Q: What progress have you made with regard to new airports?

A: It is a pleasure to announce that we would be able to boast of two international airports by the end of next year - with the completion of the Mattala Airport. An exclusive program will also be launched to train pilots to international standards.

Matters should be more open

Sunil Handunnetti - Colombo district JVP MP and JVP Central Committee member.

Q: You have expressed concern about the importance of the media during the budget debate in Parliament. Why do you suggest that the media should be allowed to cover Parliamentary Select Committee meetings?

A: All matters relating to ministries should be addressed more openly. For the first time in history, a select-committee has been appointed to look into the work of selected ministries. As a member of this select committee I too could observe that unlike when we raise matters with regard to various ministries in the House at the Select Committee, whereas these matters were addressed more openly. Even some ministers seek details from the officers who attend the Select Committee meetings on various official matters.