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Transport
Board appointments Though a top-level committee was set up to make the appointments to 11 state-run cluster bus companies which were alleged to have been riddled with corruption during the previous regime, ministers are reported to have written to or telephoned the committee in an apparent bid to influence appointments on a party basis. The professionals who sat on the selection committee are reported to have come under pressure from several ministers to appoint party cadres while Transport Minister Felix Perera himself is alleged to have sent a list of prospective directors. Minister Perera, however, told The Sunday Times he had not sent a list and that the committee was closely studying recommendations before top appointments were made to the cluster bus companies. But The Sunday Times learns that the prospective list sent by the minister as well as the list sent by the interview board are now before Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundara. The UPFA which alleged that the Transport Sector had been subjected to much political influence during the UNF regime promised it would implement a non-political policy to streamline the public transport service instead of privatising it. The purpose of appointing a professional committee to make the top appointments was to give efficient management to the cluster companies. The Sunday Times learns that the Transport Minister during a meeting with Dr. Jayasundara requested him to make the appointments from the second list. The meeting was attended by Presidential Advisor Mano Tittawella, Transport Ministry Secretary J. S. Jayaweera and National Transport Commission Chairman Amal Kumarage. It is learnt that Minister Perera's list contains names proposed by some ten ministers and pro-government trade unions and the interview board is reported to have come under intense pressure during the interviews last week. Although the National Transport Commission Act stipulates the minimum qualifications of directors of Management, Finance, Operations and Engineering sections of cluster bus companies, most of those on the second list are reported to be minus even the basic qualifications. |
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