A controversial video circulating online has triggered renewed public debate over governance, transparency, and strategic direction at Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and Mobitel, particularly surrounding the long-delayed commercial rollout of 5G services.
The presenter, Ajith Dharmapala, alleges that operational delays and internal decision-making failures within SLT-Mobitel may be benefiting rival telecom operators at the expense of the state-owned company and Sri Lankan taxpayers.
Central to the criticism are SLT Chairman Mothilal De Silva and CEO Riyaz Rasheed, both of whom are alleged to have previously worked within competing telecom circles. The video questions whether such past affiliations may present conflicts of interest in current strategic decisions.
The presenter also raises concerns regarding leadership capacity and sector readiness, particularly pointing to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry and Mobitel’s comparatively slow commercial 5G rollout despite reportedly investing nearly LKR 5 billion in spectrum rights. According to the claims made, the company is allegedly incurring approximately LKR 200 million in monthly costs linked to the spectrum investment while competitors continue expanding their market share through active 5G deployment.
Another major issue highlighted involves allegations surrounding a high-level meeting said to have taken place at Shangri-La Colombo regarding a telecom-related transaction reportedly valued between LKR 20–25 billion. The video questions why such discussions were allegedly handled privately by a limited group of executives instead of being formally tabled before the SLT Board. However, no documentary evidence supporting these allegations was presented publicly.
The video further claims that certain politically connected individuals and some board-level appointments may be undermining governance standards within the institution. Concerns are also raised regarding transparency, accountability, and broader public confidence in the management of the state-backed telecom entity.
The presenter has ultimately called for:
• A formal government audit into the 5G investment and rollout delays
• Investigations into possible conflicts of interest
• Greater transparency in decision-making processes
• Administrative changes within the current leadership structure
As of now, SLT-Mobitel has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the video.
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