By Saman Indrajith
Parliament staff members especially of those attached to its watchdog committee, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), have raised concerns about an attempt to cover up an investigation into a complaint alleging fraud amounting to millions of US Dollars in the purchase of ATMs from an IT company.
According to sources in parliament, the complaint to COPE was lodged by an organization called the People’s Movement Against Corruption. It alleged that soon after retiring from the Army, ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed as a Marketing Manager at the Informatics Group, while his wife also found employment at a subsidiary of the same company. Gotabaya and his wife had served in the Informatics Group from 1992 to 1998.
The complaint further stated that between 2007 and 2013, contracts for purchasing ATMs from the IT company were awarded to it without following established tender procedures, primarily facilitated by a senior officer from the Informatics Group who was appointed to chairman of the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) during Rajapaksa’s tenure as Defence Secretary.
Additionally, approvals were obtained from BoC in 2011 and 2012 for the direct facilitation of high-interest syndicated loans totaling USD $175 million, USD $140 million, and USD $190 million from Dubai-based Mashreq Bank.
A now defunct company called Visual Computing Systems (Pvt) Ltd, which had been another subsidiary of Informatics Group, was given contract for service and maintenance of tandem servers at BoC in 2009, according to the complaint.
Although the complaint should have been referred to the Auditor General’s Department for investigation, sources in parliament indicate that it has not progressed with authorities citing various reasons. One of these is that COPE has decided not to summon public banks for investigations until further notice.
When asked for comments, COPE Secretary Nishanthi Wickramaratne explained that when they receive public complaints, these are referred to the relevant ministry, which is expected to respond within 14 days. COPE then forwards the ministry’s response to the complainant. If the Chairperson of COPE deems a complaint worthy of investigation, it is referred to the Auditor General’s Department.
Wickramaratne declined to comment on specific complaints but noted that if a complaint concerns BoC, it is first referred to the Finance Ministry.
Asked to comment on the decision of not summoning public banks to COPE, she said that the decision had not been made under the current COPE Chairman MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena but during the tenure of a former chairman, considering the economic crisis in the country at the time.
Prof Charitha Herath who had been a former Chairman of COPE said that during his tenure they used to summon public banks for investigations. His successor Prof Ranjith Bandara said that the decision not to summon five state banks before COPE was taken during his first term as the committee’s chairman. “The decision was made soon after the Aragalaya to suspend summoning five state banks because that could lead to revealing of some highly sensitive information and considering the situation prevailing in the country and economy at that time, the committee made that decision.
“There are three occasions when COPE summons a state bank. When the Auditor General recommends that a particular bank be summoned on the basis of an allegation or charge of wrong doing, when the committee decides that such a bank be summoned or as a follow up measure when the committee needs to ascertain whether such bank had adhered to instructions given by COPE on previous meetings,” Prof Bandara said.
A former COPE Chairman and JVP/NPP member Sunil Handunetti asked to comment on the issue and said that the COPE Chairperson has the authority to initiate investigations. However, given that the current chairperson is from SLPP, he expressed skepticism about the committee pursuing allegations of fraud involving the Rajapaksas. He said that his party has announced its non-participation for COPE meetings under its incumbent chairman.
The event was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.
During the ceremony, ThaiPongal rituals were performed under the patronage of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The celebration was enriched with a range of vibrant cultural performances of Hindu culture and traditions.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Environment Minister Dammika Patabedi said yesterday he had ordered an inquiry into the withdrawal of China-based Amber Adventures (Private) Ltd., from the Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project.Addressing the media, the Minister said the Environment Ministry had no direct agreement with the company, as the project was under the purview of the Board of Investment (BOI).
He said construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone had been suspended following complaints from environmental organisations in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. All constructions in high-risk areas, he said, had been halted pending clearance by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
According to the Minister, complaints had been received that construction at Ambuluwawa was continuing without NBRO clearance.
In response, the Ministry instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to conduct an investigation and thereafter construction activities were suspended pending a technical assessment by experts.
The Ministry of Environment subsequently ordered the immediate suspension of all construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone until the assessment was completed, he said, adding that work could resume if expert evaluations cleared the project.
Following the suspension, Amber Adventures (Private) Ltd,, described as the country’s first cable car venture, formally withdrew from the project, citing what it termed “regulatory obstruction and arbitrary state action.”
The company, a major Chinese investor in the project, proposed as Sri Lanka’s first cable car initiative with both Chinese and American investment, officially informed the BOI of its decision on Wednesday (14). In a letter to the BOI, the company said it had obtained all required permits and approvals in line with BOI procedures but faced repeated disruptions that resulted in significant financial losses.
Company Director Yuan Yuping warned that legal action would be pursued at the International Court of Arbitration to recover losses incurred due to the suspension of the project, citing continuous interruptions and government decisions as the cause.
Meanwhile, the Ambuluwawa Trust Board said the withdrawal of investors from the project was a major loss to the country, noting that it was regrettable that decisions had been taken without proper investigation, based on allegations by parties lacking a clear understanding of the facts.
It warned that halting a large-scale project of that nature would result in the loss of direct and indirect employment opportunities, as well as income sources for communities in the surrounding areas.
By Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake ✍️
Balangoda Kassapa Thero, held in Trincomalee remand prison over alleged violations of the Coastal Conservation Act, reportedly refused meals yesterday (15).
Prison authorities, however, said it could not be confirmed whether the monk’s action amounted to a hunger strike. Prison Media Spokesperson A. C. Gajanayake added that an official statement on the matter would be issued today (16).
The monk and eight others were remanded until 19 Jan by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court over allegations of unauthorised construction of a shelter to place a Buddha statue at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraj Viharaya. Prison sources said Thero had also declined food brought from outside.
The case follows reports to the court by the Trincomalee Harbour Police that unauthorised constructions had been carried out, despite instructions from the Court of Appeal to resolve the dispute peacefully.
by Chaminda Silva ✍️
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