• Recognises need for foreign expertise to manage SOEs
• States that SLT must be managed in a way it can remain competitive in an evolving field
• Opines that education sector must be reformed to create skilled labour for local and foreign markets

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People's Power (NPP) announced plans to attract foreign investors to manage Sri Lanka Telecom, with the aim of transforming it into a leading institution in the domestic telecommunications sector.

NPP Leader and Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the plans during the NPP Bank and Finance Forum, outlining the party's vision for the future of the state-owned enterprise. He also commented on the need to reform the education system of the country.

Dissanayake stressed that while the NPP is firmly opposed to the sale or privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), they recognise the need for foreign expertise in managing the company.

"We are not in favour of privatisation, but we acknowledge the necessity of involving a foreign investor to manage the company due to its lack of capacity in the rapidly evolving high-tech sector," Dissanayake stated.

He further elaborated on the challenges faced by Sri Lanka Telecom, citing discussions with the company's engineers. "Our discussions with Sri Lanka Telecom engineers have revealed significant limitations in managing the technological demands of the industry," Dissanayake noted. "The telecommunications sector is evolving rapidly, and we must ensure that Sri Lanka Telecom remains competitive in this high-tech environment."

Dissanayale called for a restructuring of the country's education system, emphasising the need to prepare the workforce for the international job market. "Our education system should be restructured to provide the necessary workforce for the international job market, rather than simply exporting unskilled labour," he asserted.

He also highlighted the broader challenges facing the country, particularly in terms of human resources, noting that the NPP intends to send at least 200 students who have passed their Advanced Level (A/L) examinations to foreign universities each year, funded by the Government.