News
Procurement of LP gas: Ex-COPE Chief alleges embezzlement of funds amounting to Rs 1.3 bn
Auditor General says probe completed; Litro response to be sought
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former Chairman of the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) Prof. Charitha Herath, MP, has said the LP gas supply had been disrupted for eight months as a Litro Gas Chairman had cancelled a tender awarded to a supplier.
The SLPP National List member said so addressing a public meeting organised by the SLPP rebel group, in Kandy, on Saturday (10). Herath was referring to the appointment of Viyathmaga activist Theshara Jayasinghe as Chairman of Litro on July 06, 2021. The LP gas supply remained crippled until Jayasinghe’s resignation on 14 April 2022. Jayasinghe was succeeded by Vijitha Herath, who was replaced by Muditha Peiris on 13 June. The incumbent Chairman previously served as the Managing Director of the state enterprises owned by Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC).
Herath claimed that a dispute between local agents of the supplier chosen by Litro and another led to the disruption of supplies in the wake of the cancellation of the tender. Former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, who received the media portfolio during the tail-end of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration, were among those present at the meeting. The rebel group consists of 13 members. At the time the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Theshara Jayasinghe as Litro Chairman, Anil Koswatte served as the Chairman and the state enterprise has been embroiled in a controversy over the suspension of state audit.
Prof. Herath said it had not been possible to restore the cooking gas supply until the World Bank provided USD 70 mn to the government. Sri Lanka added USD 20 mn to the funds provided by the World Bank. The lawmaker claimed that the supplier whose bid had been rejected earlier had secured the contract through a front. He alleged that a metric ton of gas that could have been procured previously at a cost of USD 96 was finally obtained at USD 129.One-time Media Ministry Secretary alleged that even the funds provided by the World Bank at a time the country was struggling to resolve the economic crisis had been misappropriated.
Acknowledging that they didn’t want to cause another disruption, Prof. Herath said the crisis had been exploited by interested parties to embezzle as much as Rs 1.3 bn. The people had elected Gotabaya Rajapaksa President, hoping for an end to waste, corruption and irregularities. Unfortunately, the public faith in the former President was shattered.Auditor General W. P. C. Wickremaratne yesterday told The Island that his officers had completed the inquiry and would soon send their report to the state enterprise concerned for its response.
The COPE, under the chairmanship of Prof. Herath, also inquired into the failure on the part of Litro to utilize USD 160 mn allocated through the Indian credit line for the procurement of gas. The parliamentary watchdog recommended the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of Litro through the parent company SLIC instead of through the Ministry of Finance.
Prof. Herath said an investigation had to be conducted, through the Auditor General’s Department, on the cancellation of the term tender, which had been approved by the Cabinet to buy gas from Siam Gas at USD 96 per metric ton and opting to buy 100,000 MT of gas at a cost of USD 129 per metric ton from an Oman company. Instructions had been issued when the members of the top management of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd., Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation were summoned before the COPE to implement the orders given by the previous Committee on Public Enterprises and to discuss the current performance.
Inquiries revealed that since the term tender for the purchase of gas ended in February 2021, tenders had been invited for 2,80,000 metric tons of gas and three gas suppliers submitted bids accordingly. Siam Gas Company submitted the lowest price as USD 96 per metric ton and accordingly the Cabinet has decided to award the tender.The Litro management is on record as having told the COPE that gas could not be obtained from Siam Gas Company due to the economic crisis as banks in Sri Lanka were unable to submit the Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) to Litro as per the conditions announced during the bidding process.
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
Dengue outbreak gallops ahead: Infections surpasses 73,455, leaving 50 dead
Evidence recorded in money laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne dies in suspected suicide
CAA sets aflatoxin limit for processed liquid milk from January 2027
Son of ex-Justice Minister further remanded till July 28
Senior DIG transferred to Children’s and Women’s Bureau
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features6 days agoPrison riots and politics: NPP’s biggest challenge and Sri Lanka’s biggest opportunity
-
Features3 days agoDirty Money
-
Editorial6 days agoMuch ado about crime: Fish or cut bait
-
Features6 days agoMore on Saudi Arabia: ARAMCO and beyond
-
News1 day agoMoney laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
-
Midweek Review3 days agoThe sordid tale of theft and tragedy at Finance Ministry
-
Sports6 days agoThe banker who rescued Sri Lankan cricket
-
Latest News4 days agoOil prices hit 1-month high as US-Iran attacks dim Strait of Hormuz outlook