SLT-Mobitel to muster Rs. 400 mn through land lease
Even if you go to the IMF for 50 times it will not create a system change for economic benefits without taking drastic measures especially in the public sector to cut down expenses, said Chairman SLT-Mobitel Rohan Fernando yesterday.
He was speaking at the SLT-Mobitel Digitally Ready for System Change in Sri Lanka’ event yesterday. Fernando said most of the loss making State owned enterprises have huge underutilized assets including huge unused land base and these should be put to use.
‘We have already taken the initiative to offer land to leading companies like the Commercial Bank, Pizza Hut and other companies on long term lease so that we can utilise some of our underutilized assets. ‘We hope to earn around Rs 400 million from this venture from next year’’
He also said that they have had cordial discussions with the unions and other bodies before executing these projects. Similarly, other government bodies too can take a leaf from us and provide their unused land and other infrastructure to the private sector and earn revenue. He also said that in another cost cutting move the SLT and Mobitel amalgamation saw offices of both coming under one roof.
Fernando said that digital is the future of Sri Lanka but sadly bureaucracy, changing of ministers and changing of secretaries delay the implementation of this process. “For example we have provided ticketless travel e- gates to the transport and railway sector but it is still to be utilised.
Similarly, we have offered the Sri Lanka judiciary system where a person can get an email or SMS about their next court case date, but sadly this too is yet to be implemented.“This is why I say that the IMF bail out alone won’t help to resurrect the Sri Lanka economy.”
SLT-Mobitel also announced a national proposal to enhance critical services and sectors, and digitally empower citizens. The new system change proposed by SLT-Mobitel places digitally empowered citizens at its foundation, with digitalisation of identities and strong digital security and privacy.
This will serve as the building block for new technological innovations that can strengthen Digital Commerce and E-Governance in all aspects of operations critical to the county. SLT-Mobitel has identified healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, tourism, judiciary and banking and finance as critical services and sectors that can thrive under this new system, more efficiently and transparently.