The government on Wednesday vehemently rejected as “malicious and misleading” the allegations made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the government is selling off the national assets. 

“The government vehemently rejects these allegations and it is unbecoming of a person who ruled this country twice to implement such a vicious circle to mislead the people,” the Finance Ministry said.

The Hambanthota Port which failed to bring return on its huge investment will be converted in to a joint venture between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and China with the equity of over one billion US dollars, Director of Information, Ali Hassen, said in a statement.
 
This will enable the government to retire a sizeable portion of the loan obtained for the Hambanthota Port, he said. 

“Similarly, Mattala Airpot, Srilankan Airlines and Hambanthota Investment zone will have Public Private Partnership Investment (PPP) without selling off or privatizing any assets of the nation as alleged by former President and his allies which is malicious and misleading.” 

“It is pity that even certain trade unions are making the same allegations giving life to the vicious circles of those politicians,” he said.

The statement said that after the budget – 2017 was presented in Parliament Mahinda Rajapaksa has “unleashed another canard” to say that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is to be privatized. 

“The government perceives these acts by former President as malicious and misleading attempts with an ulterior motive to jeopardize the economic development of the country,” he said.