News
USD 6.9 mn loss: Ex-Minister remanded after failed bid to obtain anticipatory bail
… payment was made after China blacklisted state-owned bank
After his failed bid to secure anticipatory bail in respect of a case handled by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), regarding the loss of USD 6.9 mn caused by the procurement of substandard organic fertiliser in 2021, former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda yesterday (19) surrendered to the Colombo Chief Magistrate.
Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali remanded him till 26 May pending further investigations. The court issued an arrest warrant last Friday (16) after he filed an anticipatory bail application.
Earlier, Investigation Officers of the Commission arrested former Additional Secretary (Development) to the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mahesh Gammanpila, on 28 April, for causing approximately USD 6.9 million loss to the government by giving instructions to open the suspended Letters of Credit to import the substandard organic fertiliser consignment from Qingdao Seawin Biotech, China, in 2021/22.
Gammanpila was granted bail on 05 May.
China removed Sri Lanka’s state-owned bank from a blacklist days after it made a payment for an organic fertiliser shipment that government authorities had rejected.
The bank settled the disputed payment of 6.87 million US dollars in January 2022 to China-based Quindao Biotech Group and honoured its Letter of Credit (LC) for the organic fertiliser consignment ordered by the Ceylon Fertiliser Company and Colombo Commercial Fertiliser Company Ltd.
The fertiliser company got a court order barring payments, after the consignment of fertiliser was found to contain the harmful Erwinia bacteria on a post-shipment examination.
China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd., demanded USD 8 mn from the agency, alleging negligence, claiming that Sri Lankan authorities had not followed proper standards in the sample tests.
The company insisted that the fertiliser had been cleared in a pre-shipment examination.
The court order, blocking the payment, was vacated on 03 January, 2022, allowing the bank to settle the payment. (SF)
It has been reported that, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Hamilton Wanasinghe has passed away at the age of 91.
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed relevant officials to provide the maximum support necessary to successfully hold the Global Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly and Convention scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka.
The Secretary to the President issued these instructions during discussions held on Thursday (12) at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the Global Bora Conference and Convention.
The Bora Conference and Convention will be held from 27 June to 05 July, coinciding with the Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly, centred on the Bambalapitiya Bora Mosque and the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, with the participation of the community’s Spiritual Leader His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Sahib.
Approximately fifteen thousand members of the Bora Community from India and numerous other countries are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka for this Convention and Conference. Extensive discussions were held regarding the provision of all infrastructure facilities, including airport arrangements, for them.
A group of the Bora Community’s religious leaders, along with officials including the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, Aruni Ranaraja and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, participated in this occasion.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has reached consensus with Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), United National Party (UNP) and the People’s Alliance (PA) to take control of Akurana, Kadugannawa, Kuliyapitiya and Udubaddawa Pradeshiya Sabhas.
Opposition parties made the announcement at a joint media briefing by SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, PA General Secretary Lasantha Alagiyawanna and UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala.
Terms of 161 out of 339 local government bodies to which elections were held in May commenced on June 2. The ruling NPP and the Opposition parties have been trying to seize control of the remaining councils. Contestants failed to secure working majorities in 178 councils. Both sides have accused each other of trying to bribe elected members in a bid to take control of the councils.
Elections were not held to two local government institutions on 06 May—the Kalmunai Urban Council due to a court case and the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha (PS), which was elected last year.
Responding to questions, the Opposition spokespersons said that they were confident of forming administration and many more councils.
SJB sources said that the Opposition was also working on an arrangement regarding the Colombo Municipal Council scheduled to meet on Monday (16) for the first time when the Mayor will be elected.
Leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganeshan, MP, has alleged that the NPP bribed two of its members in the Haldumulla PS to vote in favour of the person nominated by the NPP as the chairman.
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