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| Thursday, 10 June 2004 |
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Anura orders full scale investigation: BoI squandermania Industries, Investment and Tourism Promotion Minister Anura Bandaranaike has ordered an urgent, full-scale investigation on the squandering of public funds by the Board of Investment (BoI) during the last two years. The investigators will focus especially on the appointment of non-qualified personnel to top posts at the BoI for huge salaries. No Cabinet approval has been granted for these appointments. The BoI has borne a massive monthly salary bill of over Rs.1.67 million, which included six Rs.100,000 salaries, during the two years of the UNF regime. It also ran up a huge bill for vehicles, fuel and phones given to the top executives. "They have done no real work for the BoI for the large payments received. Most of them have no experience or qualifications in the field of investment. "The investigation will begin with the former Chairman Arjuna Mahendran," a source close to the investigators said. These facts came to light in a preliminary probe ordered by the Investment Minister on the BoI's finances. It has also been revealed that the BoI paid two salaries of Rs.95,000, one salary of Rs.75,000, three salaries of Rs.50,000 and one salary of Rs.40,000 to top executives. In addition, most of the top executives had been given a vehicle, petrol or diesel up to 190 litres per month and land phone and mobile phone for which the BoI footed the bills. Forty three appointments have been made after January 1, 2002. Among the top appointments is the post of Senior Advisor for which Gaya Patikirikorale, a retired DIG, was appointed. Apart from his Rs.100,000 BoI pay, he was reported to be getting his police pension and a second salary of Rs.20,000 from the National Police Commission on top of an assigned vehicle, land phone and mobile phone. Another appointment is that of Major General Vasantha Perera (Deputy Director General, Administration), court-martialled and interdicted by the Army for sabotage during the LTTE attack on Army defence lines in the Wanni on December 1, 1999. He received a salary of Rs. 100,000 plus all other perks. Among the others drawing Rs.100,000 each were M.H.M. Faizer (Deputy Director General, Investment), Shevan de Silva (Executive Director), Channa de Silva (Executive Director) and G.L. Perera (Consultant). N. Tiruchelvam, Deputy Director General and Santhusht Jayasuriya, also a Deputy Director General, drew Rs.95,000 each per month. They were also allocated vehicles and phones. Ms. A.V.Rajapakse (Director) received Rs.75,000 per month. Vice Admiral Terence Sundaram, Chief Executive Officer of the BoI's North-East operations, drew a similar amount. K.P.V.D. Fernando (Additional Director) drew Rs.55,000 each. They were also given vehicles and phones. Sumedha de Silva (Director, Secretariat) received a monthly salary of Rs.50,000 in addition to a vehicle and two phones. Ms. A.V. Lakthilaka (Consultant Director) was placed at the Rs.40,000 salary point. Six officers received salaries between Rs.25,000 and Rs.34,000 while another six received amounts between Rs.20,000 and Rs.25,000. |
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