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| Tuesday, 25 May 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Milinda's henchman still hanging on as Consultant Members of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and staff of the Science and Technology Ministry are up in arms against an attempt by a henchman of former Economic Reforms and Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda to win the favour of the new Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana to secure his appointment as a consultant to the new Ministry while seeking a directorship for his girl-friend at the same Ministry. They claim that the individual concerned who is 64 and a retired officer of the Department of Commerce and appointed on contract from May 2002 to 2004 on Cabinet approval obtained by former Minister Moragoda. According to them he knew next to nothing about science and technology or communication technology. Acting as a close friend of the former Minister this individual acted in blatant contravention of the administrative and disciplinary rules and regulations while undertaking foreign tours utilising state resources for his "playful living". They say he misused the former Minister's name to travel to all conferences, seminars and workshops conducted in foreign countries utilising State funds and resources. Such tours he undertook to Sweden, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and other countries cost the State approximately Rs. 6.5 million. This individual also took upon himself to attend a conference of Information Technology Ministers of Asian countries as the head of a four member delegation in Hyderabad held between January 12 and 13 without obtaining the President's sanction to leave the country. The inclusion of an unmarried female officer of the now defunct Information Technology Council as a personal assistant to this individual on this tour raised many eyebrows and was the subject of severe criticism by information technologists. However as a retired person he was incapable of improving knowledge and consequently he did not conduct any workshop or seminars after his return to the island. He is now allegedly engaged in a camouflage act with the present Minister to get himself appointed as consultant to the Ministry of Information Technology while seeking a directorship in the same Ministry for his girl friend. The Staff say if the Present Science and Technology Minister wants to forge ahead with the theme "country forward" (rata perata) he should remove such people intent on enjoying foreign trips with their playmates at State expense. They are also preparing to make representations to the President against this individual's forcible presence at the Ministry. |
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