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. |