British Prime Minister David Cameron and several other Commonwealth Leaders had expressed grave concern over the controversial ‘Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilized Assets’ Act that was enacted in parliament recently.

Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told journalists yesterday that the controversial Bill became the main topic of discussion at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and International Democratic Union (IDU) meetings that took place in London last week.

Mr. Wickremesinghe who spoke to journalists soon after his arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport last morning said the IDU and the CPA had assured their support to opposition political parties in Sri Lanka in their struggle to safeguard the rights of local businessmen.

He said Commonwealth leaders were of the view that Sri Lankan businessmen would have topped the global list of entrepreneurs if the pre-1977 government had refrained from nationalizing their assets.

Mr. Wickremesinghe stressed the need to safeguard the rights of local businessmen including Daya Gamage and Harry Jayawardene.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said his party would fully back Mr. Gamage’s decision to take up the acquisition issue with the World Bank-affiliated Investment Dispute Settlement Unit.

UNP Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, parliamentarians Joseph Michael Perera, John Amaratunga, Jayalath Jayawardene, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil and several provincial councillors including Western Provincial Council opposition leader Manjusri Arangala and councillor C.Y.P. Ram were at the airport to welcome Mr. Wickremesinghe on his arrival.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka