In a short but relatively wide-ranging interview with CNN’s Richard Quest at a Colombo tourism summit this morning, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called for limited government in, among other areas, tourism promotion and the running of SriLakan Airlines.
Responding to a question by the British business correspondent on approval delays for the tourism industry’s post-Easter recovery plans, Wickremesinghe said a public-private partnership (PPP) with larger industry partnership would be key for effective tourism promotion.
“It has been taking too long, I agree. I have suggested that we have one or two companies – public-private partnerships, with the industry having a larger share and the Government passing the money from the promotion fund for the proposed promotions. That seems to be the easy way out right now,” he said.
The dialogue took place at the Cinnamon Future of Tourism summit held at the Cinnamon Grand with the participation of government officials, private sector players and other industry stakeholders. Quest, with his fame brought about by decades of experience in international business journalism, was the star attraction at the event.
The Prime Minister, advocating smaller government presence in the sector, told Quest that in order to meet Sri Lanka’s tourism targets, the industry must commit itself with adequate investment.
“The industry as a whole must put in money and take part in this. The Government has to make sure more resources are made available. But it also means the private sector has to invest more capital, and we have to have foreign investment if tourism is to go ahead,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of the groundwork. We can [have a ] breakthrough within the next year and a half,” he added.
When the CNN anchor asked if Sri Lanka needs a national airline, Wickremesinghe responded in the affirmative but cautioned against government ownership.
“We need a national airline, but it doesn’t mean it has to be government-owned. That’s the first thing. Also, a national airline must focus on a few routes and allow the rest to be brought in,” he said.
Asked if much of SriLankan Airline’s woes weren’t due to government meddling, the Prime Minister conceded that government interference has indeed contributed to the state of affairs at the crisis-riddled national carrier.
“Certainly there was government interference, and we have a debt of about a billion dollars. We all have to pay it,” he said.
“I don’t,” said Quest, in jest.
“Why, Richard. Every time you come here and pay VAT, you pay part of it,” retorted Wickremesinghe, much to the amusement of the audience.
In response to questions about the United National Party (UNP)’s presidential candidate, the “elephant in the room”, as Quest put it, the Prime Minister was decidedly, if jocularly, evasive.
“It’s a secret,” he said at one point.
The segment of the interview on the Easter Sunday attacks and alleged government inaction was much less jovial and the responses markedly awkward.
“We have learned from the experience. Now we have to ensure that we follow up on all the information we receive. However difficult it may be, we have to act on that information; look at it and then decide. Secondly, we are very closely looking at ISIS. Until [the attacks] we were looking at terrorism in general, in Jaffna and other parts of the country. We hadn’t given made a priority,” said Wickremesinghe.
“Not only the ISIS, but others too as far as preaching hate is concerned,” he added.
This begs the difficult question, said Quest, as to how the situation ever got so bad within government that such a security beach could ever happen. The journalist questioned the lack of communication and dysfunctionality that allowed the attacks to be perpetrated.
“How can you guarantee that this won’t happen again?” he asked.
“What we also want to know is that. This was discussed from 9 April. Unfortunately, that’s our holiday period. Somehow or the other [the discussion] didn’t go beyond a point. It should’ve. They sent out letters forewarning the attacks. But the question is, why wasn’t there a followup?” said the Prime Minister.
Quest then asked Wickremesinghe if he could guarantee that the gory details of the behind-the-scenes negligence will be revealed to the public at the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
“Certainly the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report will be made public. The Cardinal has also requested for the appointment of commissions. He has said let the PSC report be out; and I certainly wouldn’t mind another inquiry myself that goes into the details so far uncovered. I wouldn’t object to a public inquiry,” said the Premier.
Asked what the lesson for the Government in the incident is, Wickremesinghe said: “The lesson here is that whatever part of the world we’re in, we’re facing a new threat. We’ve got to work together, and we can’t disregard the information that comes our way however improbable it may be.”
(Republic next)