News
Investigation into missing DLB vehicle drags on for 14 years
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.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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