DailyMirror
A railways department trade union yesterday urged the department to punish those found guilty of fraudulent activities including corruption which had resulted in the railways having incurred a staggering loss Rs.60,000,000.
Organization for the Protection of Properties and Rights of Railway Employees’ alleged that for several years the department had purchased excessive quantities of equipment including axel boxes, alkaline batteries, trolleys and hand signal lamps.
“In 2005 the department had ordered 25 extra axel boxes at a cost of some Rs.250,000 each. At the time we filed a complaint with the Bribery and Corruption Commission but this type of thing still continues,” the union spokesman Sumathipala Manawadu said.
He said on another occasion 64 sets of alkaline batteries were bought by the department at the cost of Rs.100,000 each.
“Some of these items can only be used within a limited period of time as they have a tendency to corrode. This type of thing causes huge losses to the department but the system continues because of the commissions on the purchases. Politicians and businessman are involved in these rackets. We urge the railways department to stop the corruption and hold those responsible accountable,” Mr. Manawadu said.