NHDA chairperson rides in real style
Although restrictions have been imposed on the utilisastion of state funds,
the newly-appointed chairperson of the National Housing Development Authority
(NHDA) is facing allegations of purchasing a new car costing Rs. 2,225,000,
sources said.
The chairperson, Ms. A.B.C. Calyaneratne has obtained a Peugeot 406,
taking advantage of a Treasury letter issued during the tenure of the previous
government dated 28 May 2001, granting approval for the NHDA to purchase
several vehicles, the sources added.
While Treasury approval has been granted to purchase a car costing less
than Rs. 1,400,000 the new car has cost Rs. 2,225,000. Approval had been
granted to buy a car below 1500 cc, however, the new car has a capacity
of 1800 cc.
The Board of Directors of the NHDA has not approved the purchase of
the luxury car which is a violation of state procedure, the sources added.
Physio asked to make payment
By Nilika de Silva
The Divisional Secretary of Thimbirigasyaya is to send a notice to the
President's physiologist and CEO of a health services company ordering
him to make an overdue lease payment estimated to be in the region of Rs.
six million.
Divisional Secretary George Kulatunga told The Sunday Times he will
be sending the letter to Mike Chomley this week.
The letter to Mr. Chomley, CEO of Lifestyle Health Services (Pvt) Ltd.
will stipulate the deadline by which the payment for leasing the land located
at Model Farm Road, Narahenpita must be made, failing which his right to
the land would be cancelled.
The Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC)
has also been instructed to prepare a bill for the expenses incurred in
filling up the 188 perch block of land at Model Farm Road, SLLRDC Chairman
V. Sathiyanandan said.
Last week Mr. Sathiyanandan stated that Mr. Chomley had not paid the
state Rs. five million outstanding for the filling of the land.
Mr. Chomley claimed he was not paying the money until he gets proper
access to the land and the Municipality provides electricity and water
supply to it.
BOI officials said that in the event no payment was made the agreement
should have been cancelled in the middle of last year.
Meanwhile, a bridge costing about Rs. 12 million was built across the
canal leading to Mr. Chomley's property located behind the Royal Colombo
Golf Course. Construction of the bridge began in December 2000 and was
completed in mid-April 2001.
However, Mr. Chomley maintains that he never requested this bridge be
built, as previously a culvert bridge had existed.
'Expedite remandees' cases before polls'
By Shelani Perera
The Opposition is to appeal to the Attorney General to expedite cases of
Opposition members in custody before the local government polls.
Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse told The Sunday Times that the decision
was taken at last week's party leaders meeting.
"I gave a list of those in custody to Minister Karu Jayasuriya who handed
it over to the Attorney General's Department. I will also hand over a letter
to the Attorney General requesting that the cases be expedited before the
March polls," Mr. Rajapakse said.
The appeal follows the Opposition Leader's call made in Parliament last
week accusing the Government of instigating the police to arrest PA members
to disrupt the party campaign.
The Opposition Leader charged that the police were prolonging the cases
without carrying out an investigation. Mr. Rajapakse told The Sunday Times
that the issue was taken up at the party leaders' meeting since the PA
election campaign had been affected.
"We can only make an appeal since it's a judicial matter, but I will
instruct our lawyers to meet the Attorney General to expedite proceedings.
"We are asking for the Pradeshiya Sabha members to be given bail, so that
they can get on with the campaign," he said.
New Cabinet ministers told to come alone
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti
The swearing-in of the eight new Cabinet ministers will take place at the
Presidential Secretariat tomorrow at 12.30 p.m..
Those who join Cabinet rank are Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, Mahinda Samarasinghe,
Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, P. Chandrasekaran, Ravi Karuna- nayake, Dr.
Rajitha Senaratne, Milinda Moragoda and Vajira Abeywardhane.
In a strange twist to the swearing in tale, the Presidential Secretariat
had informed all ministers who are to be sworn in as Cabinet members to
come alone. A senior UNP member who is to be sworn in tomorrow said that
he was informed by the Prime Minister's office to abide by the Presidential
Secretariat's request and to come alone for the swearing in. The explanation
given is that when the members were originally sworn in as non -Cabinet
members, they were accompanied by wives and children, hence there is no
need to repeat the ritual. |
