News
CPC Losses Rs 3.5 bn: Culprits allowed to go overseas
Fuel Commission Scam
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A group of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) officials, responsible for causing loss of nearly 3.5 billion rupees, had left the country over the past several years and successive Ministers had failed to take action against any one of them, the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) was told recently.
The parliamentary watchdog delved into the corrupt deal that enabled filling station owners to make a killing at the expense of both the corporation and consumers alike, according to a statement issued by the Parliament.
Declaring that the marketing department of the then loss-making enterprise had been directly responsible for the massive fraud, the parliamentary watchdog committee emphasized that the top management deliberately delayed the issuance of a particular circular for nearly nine years to facilitate payment of excessive commissions to distributors.
COPE alleged that the public had to bear the burden as the CPC conveniently passed the unwarranted additional expenditure to the consumers.the statement issued by Jayalath Perera, Director (Legislative Services) on behalf of the Director Communication, the CPC and the distributors had perpetrated the robbery exactly over a period of eight years and eight months. On the basis of Auditor General W.P.C. Wickremaratne’s report for 2022 and examination of the current status of the CPC, the COPE estimated the losses caused at Rs. 3,416 mn for the period of 2014 to 2022.
The examination of the CPC was undertaken by COPE, under the leadership of Rohitha Abeygunawardena, whose appointment as its Chairman, in early March this year, caused a major uproar in Parliament. Questioning the integrity of the lawmaker concerned, the Opposition announced a boycott of the proceedings. The status quo remains the same. AG Wickremaratne had been present at the proceedings where COPE questioned the current top management of the CPC on June 19th.
State Ministers Indika Anuruddha and Shantha Bandara, Members of Parliament Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dayasiri Jayasekara, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, M. Rameshwaran and Madhura Withanage were present at the proceedings.
COPE declared that the marketing department should be held accountable for the mega fraud. At the time the marketing department initiated the manipulation of the process in 2014, Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi had been the Minister in charge of the Power and Energy portfolio. According to the AG’s findings, the manipulation had continued during the tenure of Patali Champika Ranawaka, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Ravi Karunanayake, Mahinda Amaraweera, Dullas Alahapperuma, Gamini Lokuge and again Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi. Except Ravi Karunanayake, who is a qualified top accountant, all others are in the current Parliament, with Amaraweera serving the Cabinet of Ministers, while Siyambalapitiya is State Finance Minister.
The corrupt deal between the CPC and the distributors had continued unabated during the Covid-19 epidemic, and the economic crisis, leading to the declaration of bankruptcy in April 2022.
The top management hadn’t been able to explain the action taken against those responsible at any level. COPE asked the CPC, on June 19, to submit a list of those responsible for the sordid operation, within seven working days. COPE also asked for a comprehensive report on fraudulent activities, within two weeks, and requested the lodging of a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), regarding the case.
According to COPE, due to payment of unjustifiable commissions to the distributors, consumers had to pay Rs. 5.85 for a litre of 92 petrol, Rs. 7.50 for a litre of 95 petrol, Rs. 5.88 for LED and Rs. 6.96 for LSD in excess as of the calculations to date.
It was also disclosed that massive commissions that had been paid in 2022, the year the country declared bankruptcy, was conveniently categorised as sales expenditure. The examination revealed that absolutely no action had been taken against those responsible.
CPC officials before COPE
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
No decision yet on ICC meeting to discuss Pakistan boycott
Shoulder injury casts doubt over Eshan Malinga’s T20 World Cup
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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