No Ministry nod for 'strange BTI bacteria'
Nadira Gunatilleke
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has ordered ministry officials
to stop paying Rs. 45 million to import a strange BTI bacteria to Sri
Lanka without obtaining the minister's and ministry authorities
permission and following rules and regulations, Ministry Media Officer
W.M.D. Vanninayake said.
According to Vanninayake, this BTI bacteria, in the shape of a
`doughnut' (`ulundu wade'), had been imported to Sri Lanka without the
knowledge and permission of the health minister and ministry officials.
"Rules and regulations had not been followed to import this bacteria
which costs Rs. 60 million.
The officials who imported the bacteria had paid Rs. 15 million to
the foreign company by misleading officials and obtaining their
signature for the documents," he said.
The BTI bacteria had been imported without a technical report or
conducting a study to examine whether it is effective in dengue mosquito
breeding control in Sri Lanka.
The ministry had imported liquid BTI bacteria from Cuba after
obtaining Cabinet approval, conducting a full study, implementing a
pilot project and following rules and regulations, he said.
Considering the gravity of the offence, Minister Sirisena ordered
officials not to pay a single cent more to this company. "The incident
will be investigated soon," he added.
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