Mr. Minister, read your own minutes
Ever heard of a Government accusing newspapers of distorting facts to “disrupt the economic development of Sri Lanka” when the news report in question is nothing but the truth and the whole truth?
This time the accusation was against the Sunday Times over last week’s front page lead story headlined “H’tota and Mattala: China declines Lanka’s request.” Most piqued was Malik Samarawickrema, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade. The man, who formulates strategy and negotiates for Sri Lanka all international deals, was evidently unaware or forgotten what is going on with regard to key matters in his own Ministry?
So, having read his favourite newspaper, he made telephone calls to a few including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. By Sunday evening, a Sinhala text (a denial of our report) arrived at the Government Information Department. Officials there were unaware from whom or where it came. The translation into English was carried out at the Department. The texts were released to all media.
State media, Derana and Sirisa television networks gave prominence to the statement on Sunday night, at least one saying privately that it did so “under pressure.” One television outlet, though the Sunday Times was not mentioned in the statement, showed visuals of the masthead and the report in question. However, none of the print media published any reference except for a vernacular news sheet now facing a cash crunch and wanting a government bail-out. Whether the outlets which used the news release that accused us of disrupting the economic development of the country will now set the record right with our own account is to be seen.
Appearing on this page is the statement issued by the Government Information Department, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Matters (CCEM) and a montage of the minutes as proof of our story. These will give the reader a clear idea of what the Sunday Times has reported though Minister Samarawickrama feels embarrassed by this revelation. Thus, the broad accusation that we are disrupting the economy, a new brand name the new Government gives to independent media needs to be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. As is clear, the truth hurts. It hurts more when they don’t like the public to know.
“The debt equity transfer on the Chinese loans will be implemented in accordance with the discussions Prime Minister of Sri Lanka had in Beijing with the President of the Peoples Republic of China His Excellency Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on 7th and 8th April 2016.
“In accordance with the discussion, in the first instance the Chinese Government will promote Chinese firms interested in entering to Private-Public Partnership with Sri Lanka Government in regard to the specified project. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has instructed Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade and Minister of Special Assignments to discuss the required modalities with the Chinese Ambassador and to report back to the CCEM. The discussions have been finalised and report to be submitted.
‘Following these discussions, o on Friday 29th July 2016, a meeting was held in Hambantota by the two Ministers with the Chinese Ambassador and interested Chinese firms on the proposals for Mattala Airport, Hambantota P Port, Tourism Zone, a Petroleum Refinery, a dockyard, a LNG Power Plant and Industrial Parks. These will come under the Public Private Partnership b between Sri Lanka Government Agencies and Chinese Investors. Furthermore, the Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade is discussing other investment p proposals in regard to Hambantota with foreign investors of other nationalities. This includes a second Petroleum R Refinery.
“A part of the English print media have distorted the facts in regard to these transactions in order to disrupt the economic development of Sri Lanka. The discussion alleged to have taken between the Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Chinese Ambassador as stated in the Sunday Times titled “H’tota and Mattala : China declines Lanka’s request” is false. This paper together with the Financial Times are le leading the campaign of dis-inf formation.”