Minister pledges to resolve problems facing telecoms

Razeena Razick

COLOMBO: Posts and Telecommunication Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday met telephone company chiefs to discuss regarding the current obstructions, policy issues and legislative reforms of the sector. The Chief Executive Officers and representatives of the leading telephone service providers took part in this event with the Minister and his staff.

Suren Amarasekara from Mobitel, Hans Wijesuriya from Dialog Telecom, K. Rathnayaka from TRCSL, P. Obeysekara from SLT, Lasantha Perera from Hutch, Suren Gunewardane from Lanka Bell, A. Vigneswaran from Tritel and Duminda Rathnayaka from Tigo were present.

The Minister put forward many proposals to assist the telecom networks and said the Ministry can help resolve current problems. The Minister also said as a largest profit making sector the industry has a big role to play in developing the country.

The Minister highlighted the need for taking telecommunications to the regions. He urged the company chiefs to explain obstacles in their way so that they can be discussed with the Cabinet to find solutions.

The telecom chiefs pointed out the Approval policy where it takes 180 days to get an approval. Obstructions in putting up a tower, environmental issues, Local authority obstructions, tax issues were discussed. The Minister pledged to take up these issues.