News
Last year, CEB recorded staggering increase of Rs 590 mn in additional payments
Trade union wants to appear before COPE
By Shamindra Ferdinando
United Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal yesterday (23) said that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) should give a fair hearing to issues relating to waste, corruption, irregularities as well as mismanagement in the power sector.
Unfortunately, the watchdog committee only sought the views of the top management of loss making CEB, trade unionist Jayalal said.
The activist said so when The Island asked for his response to the disclosure made at the COPE recently that in addition to monthly salaries about Rs 1,544.4 mn and Rs 2,134.9 mn had been paid to workers in 2020 and 2021, respectively in violation of a Cabinet decision taken on 14 Nov. 2008 and the Management Services Circular of No 39 of 26 May 2009.
When The Island pointed out that there had been a staggering Rs 590 mn increase in various additional payments made to workers last year, Jayalal stressed that the COPE should ask for a breakdown. The top management included the engineers, who should accept responsibility for the current crisis, Jayalal said, the primary issues at hand were created and caused by the top management and their political masters.
The new controversy erupted in the wake of CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando after his declaration that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa intervened on behalf of India’s Adani Group.
Jayalal said that Prof. Charitha Herath MP, who headed COPE, shouldn’t forget that the ruling party he represented had ruined the CEB. Successive governments had accommodated their supporters in the CEB, he said, adding that political appointees in turn simply exploited the state enterprise for their benefit, and the CEB had ended up in a dire financial situation.
A senior CEB official declined to comment on the disclosures made by the COPE. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the Board of Management would respond, in writing, to the issues raised by the COPE. The media would have to obtain the CEB’s response from the parliamentary body, the official said. He declined to comment on assertions made by the COPE on the CEB.
Jayalal said that as several ministers appointed by the SLFP-led PA, UPFA and SLPP had been at the helm of the Ministry of Power, they should accept responsibility for excess executive staff and workers in the CEB.
Responding to another query, he said the CEB management always cooperated with those in power. They quite conveniently bent laws and regulations to appease the power minister whoever held that portfolio, Jayalal said, urging parliamentary watchdog committees to seek explanation from the past and present ministers.
Jayalal said that the President appointed both the ministers and Secretaries to the Ministries as well. Therefore, COPE and two other watchdogs, Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), too, should be mindful of ground realities as corruption here was now endemic.
News
Law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally- State Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe
State Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22] said that the law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally.
He said that , if someone joins a municipal council receiving a modest salary and, within two to three years, builds a luxury house and acquires a vehicle, we will question how such wealth was amassed. If a satisfactory explanation cannot be provided, the law will be enforced and the measures will be taken to confiscate any illegally acquired assets.
The opposition frequently levels accusations against us, but we have not engaged in any wrongdoing. We have not misappropriated public funds, used undue influence to secure school admissions for our children, or interfered with law enforcement. We are dedicated to serving the people by upholding an ethical and responsible political culture.
If you wish to develop your community, I respectfully urge you to elect individuals of integrity who will not misuse public funds.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
It has been reported that prison officials and the police have brought the unrest among the 500 plus inmates of the Matara prison which commenced on Tuesday [22] under control by this morning (23)
It has been reported that the inmates had broken out of their wards after which the officials were compelled to fire in the air and use tear gas to bring the situation under control.
The inmates are being temporarily transferred to the Angunkolapelessa prison in groups to enable authorities to repair the the damage caused to the wards and cells within the premises.
The prison officials who were injured during the conflict are receiving treatment at the Matara hospital. 
Latest News
Local government authorities and Municipal Councils are the nursery of corrupt politics. – Prime Minister
The Prime Minister stated that the President has challenged all ministers to transparently and efficiently spend the funds allocated to each ministry through the national budget for the benefit of the people, and that the local governments and municipal councils have historically been the nursery grounds of corrupt politics.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22].
The Prime Minister further stated:
“All 159 of us in Parliament today did not enter through family or financial influence. We are ordinary citizens just like you and individuals who stand among you. Unlike in the past, our members do not behave disruptively in Parliament. When school children visit, there is no need for the Speaker to request their removal that our parliamentary members conduct themselves with dignity, adherence to the law, and political maturity.
This is the kind of Parliament we have always aspired to have. Today, it is you who has made this transformation possible. For a long time, we have not experienced the advantages of an efficient and properly functioning local government. You now have the opportunity to elect representatives who are truly committed to serving you and improving your local institutions.
The event was attended by Arosh Athapaththu, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council candidate representing the National People’s Power, along with several other candidates and a large number of local residents.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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