Oil hedging follow-up
The Supreme Court ordered the suspension of Asantha de Mel as Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and his office to be taken over by the Secretary to theTreasury, until the President appoints a suitable person. The Court ordered that the activities of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, be taken away from the Minister ofPetroleum A. H. M. Fowzie and be placed directly under the President of Sri Lanka. Article 44 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka provided for this. All petroleum relatedactivities are to be managed by the State.
More: Island 29 November www.dailymirror.lk
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COPE investigations
Of 46 major cases of waste, corruption and irregularities exposed by the Committee on Public Enterprises COPE), only 16 will be investigated. The Commission toInvestigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption will investigate only three of the 13 cases of corruption revealed by the Committee on Public Enterprises in its second report to Parliament submitted over a year ago.
More: Island 29 November www.dailymirror.lk
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Lease extended
In 2001 former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had extended the lease of 100 perches of prime land in Rajagiriya held by the Prima Company for a period of 55 years, disclosed Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Parliament. The land had originally been leased for 20 years in1981.
More: Daily Mirror 28 November www.dailymirror.lk
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Boost for anti-corruption drive
Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya said that recent Supreme Court rulings in respect of several high profile cases would give a turbo boost to the anti-corruption drive.
More: Island 28 November www.island.lk
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Call for anti-corruption measures
Auditor General has called for urgent measures to tackle waste, corruption and irregularities in the public sector, stressing the need for 93 government-owned companiesand six regional development banks to be brought under the purview of the Auditor General’s Department.
More: Island 28 November www.island.lk
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‘Maranada Danduvam’ remanded
A 45-year old female in Hungama known as ‘Marana Danduvam’ in the deep South who is alleged to have fraudulently taken money from the public to the tune of Rs 18 million has been remanded until 3 December.
More: Lankadipa 28 November www.lankadipa.lk
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Bank officer sentenced
An ex- Seylan Bank executive has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after admitting to six charges of cheating by opening a bank account in the name of a deceased person and obtaining a loan of Rs 821,000.
More: Dinamina 27 November www. Dinamina.lk
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Eight institutes on the mat for corruption, wastage
Eight institutions including mostly government entities yesterday came under fire from Corruption Watch for wastage of funds and shady deals. The organisation holding a press conference highlighted Ceylon Electricity Board, Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Sri Lanka Cricket, VAT frauds at Inland Revenue Department, Ports Authority, Nation Building Ministry, Health Ministry and Prima Company as the main dens of corruption. Corruption Watch also slammed the Government over the hedge deal for fuel and insisted that the details be revealed to the public on interests of transparency.
More: Bottomline 26 November www.thebottomline.lk
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Irregularities in textile quotas
Bribery Commission will be asked to investigate irregularities in the handling of textile quotas by the Domestic Textile Allocation Committee resulting in sub-standard uniforms being submitted to Army soldiers.
More: Sunday Times 23 November www.sundaytimes.lk
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Fertiliser racket
It has been revealed that 228 bags of subsidized fertilizer worth Rs 874,925 have been fraudulently issued by the Sivalakulama Agrarian Services Centre.
More: Lakbima 27 November www.lakbima.lk
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In bribery net
Bribery Commission sleuths arrested the chief revenue officer of the Moratuwa Municipal Council for allegedly solicign a bribe of Rs 2,500 not to take action against a tax fraudster.
More: Daily Mirror 25 November www.dailymirror.lk
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Forest officer nabbed
A special team of the Bribery Commission arrested a Forest Officer attached to the Kuruwita Beat Forest Office for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a farmer not to take action for cutting trees in a forest reserve.
More: Daily Mirror 22 November www.dailymirror.lk