House Inquiry reveals deficiencies in COPE, AG

An ongoing inquiry into the disappearance of a double cab, belonging to the Development Lotteries Board (DLB), way back in 2008 has revealed deficiencies in the Auditor General’s Department and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

The tardy progress in the probe came to light when the COPE on 10 March took up with the DLB the disappearance of the cab, procured by the then Chairman of the DLB one-time lawmaker Sarana Gunawardena in 2008, at a cost of Rs. 8,095,000.

The COPE pointed out that the vehicle hadn’t been sighted since it was bought.

The COPE took up the issue at a meeting in the Parliamentary complex when the Auditor General’s reports for 2017 and 2018, pertaining to the DLB were examined. The reports on COPE proceedings made available to the media didn’t reveal the reason why the probe had dragged on for 14 years.

At the COPE meeting, chaired by its Chairperson, Prof. Charitha Herath, it was revealed how the DLB has been compelled to pay nearly Rs 16,190,000 to the private company that supplied the cab following a court ruling. The inquiry further revealed the DLB had suffered a loss of Rs 26,634,185 by 31 Dec, 2018. This amount included lawyers’ fees, the COPE revealed.

Among the lawmakers present at the inquiry were Ministers Sarath Weerasekera, Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and MPs, Susil Premjayantha, Jagath Pushpakumara, Champika Ranawaka, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Madura Vithanage and Premnath C. Dolawatta.

A statement issued by the Office of the Legislative Services, Janakantha Silva, who is also the Acting Director, Communication, quoted the Chairman DLB, Ajith Naragala as having said that on the instructions of the Attorney General legal proceedings had been initiated to recover the losses incurred by the DLB.

Prof. Herath has pointed out how those who served on the board of directors of state enterprises caused significant losses to the government.

The COPE also asked the DLB why a state-of-the-art recording studio, built at a cost of Rs 38.75 mn hadn’t been used though it was available since 2015. Instead, the DLB had paid Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Rs 2146.82 (well over Rs 2 bn) for recordings done at its studios, the COPE pointed out though the DLB claimed the recordings were done at a concessionary rate.

The DLB has told the COPE that it intended to develop the facility as an auditorium. Prof. Herath pointed out how the government suffered huge losses due to unilateral and unplanned ad-hoc decisions taken without proper consultations.