Signed P-TOMS tabled in House by PM

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala

The Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) signed between the Government and the LTTE was presented to Parliament along with its signatures.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse tabled a copy of the P-TOMS document with signatures at the commencement of Parliament sittings yesterday.

"I hereby table a copy of P-TOMS document along with the signatures," Prime Minister Rajapakse said while presenting the document to Parliament.

Earlier, UPFA MP as JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa requested the Government to present the P-TOMS document along with the signatures. Weerawansa also requested a two-day debate on the P-TOMS.

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara responded to this saying that the matter could be discussed at the Party Leader's meeting.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama told parliament that the Government structure of using funds will not be changed under the P-TOMS when implementing projects in the tsunami-hit North and East.

Responding to a question by UPFA Colombo district MP and former Deputy Minister Sunil Handunnetti regarding the P-TOMS, Dr. Amunugama said the existing government agencies will be the implementing agencies of tsunami rehabilitation projects, recommended under P-TOMS.

"Existing Government bodies such as Provincial Councils and District Secretariats will be the agencies spending funds allocated to each project," the Minister added.

The Minister said all the expenditure will be subjected to Government financial regulations and the Auditor General has the full authority to audit the activities of these implementing agencies.

"The Provincial Council and the district level structure will be responsible for calling tenders, supervising the implementation of projects," Dr. Amunugama added. "Not a single cent will be spent out of the Government structure," he said.

The Minister said the structure of the existing District Committees will remain as they are and they will be entrusted with the task of identifying the projects for the district and will be forwarded to the approval of the Regional Committee.

Dr. Amunugama said projects will be identified in accordance with the assessments of the TAFREN and also by the combined assessment done by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The Minister explained that since the regional fund will consist of grants from various countries, it will be audited by an independent body agreed by both parties. "The Government's authority to audit the use of funds by the Regional Fund will not be affected by this," he added.

The Minister said all those facts cannot be included in a agreement of this kind. He said all the misgivings on the P-TOMS will be dispelled once it comes into operation.