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Dubious deals, ‘unnatural losses’ at Trade Ministry under probe
Trade Minister Bandula Guanawardena told Parliament yesterday that two separate investigations were being conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption into some dubious deals and instances of financial irregularities in his ministry during the period from 2015 to 2019.
Responding to a question raised by SLPP MP Mohamed Muzammil, Minister Gunawardena said, “Some institutions coming under the ministry of trade have been making huge losses and there must be a proper explanation. In addition to the losses, a sum of eight billion rupees has be paid to the suppliers for that period. Some suppliers say the relevant files have gone missing. It was unacceptable that files and documentary proof are misplaced. We intend to commence an additional forensic audit on those deals.”
Minister Gunawardena also said that during the period from 2015 to 2019 Sri Lanka had imported 927.7 million litres of fat/vegetable fat at a cost of Rs 1,081 million. (SI)
