The Finance Ministry is conducting investigations into an attempt made to allegedly remove important files from the Sri Lanka Insurance (SLI) head office on Wednesday June 17 according to Finance Ministry sources.
This incident was reported barely two weeks after the Supreme Court ruling, against the privatization of SLI in 2003. While declaring the deal illegal, the Court ordered the General Treasury to take over administrative functions until the appointment of new board of directors.
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| Pictured are Attorney at Law Romesh De Silva, in a pensive mood outside the Supreme Court complex on Thursday. Mr. De Silva appeared for Senior Partner of Ernst & Young Asita Talwatte, at right, the 22nd respondent in the SLI fundamental rights petition. |
A senior official of the Finance Ministry told the Sunday Times FT that a comprehensive audit will be carried out by the Treasury’s audit department and stern action will be taken against any officers and saboteurs who are involved in corrupt practices, meddling with files or illegal transactions if they detect any such cases. A workers committee has been formed to prevent any unwarranted incidents and to maintain normal functions smoothly during this interim period of continuing commercial operations till the appointment of new board of directors.
During the Supreme Court proceedings Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran appearing for the petitioner of the SLI - FR case Vasudeva Nanayakkra informed the court that a lorry, marked with Formula World (bearing license plate number HJ2126) was being detained at the Slave Island police station when it was being loaded with some files at SLI premises .
A police report was also filed by R.P.D. Rajapakse, an SLI employee, who lodged a complaint with the Slave Island police.
The Court directed the Treasury Secretary to direct officers to examine the files and ascertain if they are property of SLIC and whether they have been removed without proper authority.
When contacted by the Sunday Times FT, the SLIC Competent Authority Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said that these files belonged to another company- ‘Formula World’ operating at the corporation premises and they have sought the permission of SLIC CEO, Suren Glagoda on June 10 to remove their files and a letter was issued by Mr. Galagoda approving their request.
Vigilant employees of the corporation alerted him and the police suspected that an attempt was being made to meddle with SLIC files. The Slave Island police seized the lorry loaded with these files. However, he said that no gate pass was issued to remove these items and only an authorisation letter was there at the time of the detection. He said a request was already made to the Finance Ministry to conduct an audit inspection into this matter to uncover the contents of these files. A special Police team is conducting further investigations under the directions of DIG H.M.P Hearth. No one has been arrested in connection with this incident, OIC Malin Perera said.
Meanwhile, the Public Enterprises Department of the General Treasury is to be empowered to supervise and monitor the performance of the SLIC after the assumption of duties of the new Board of Directors of the Corporation. |
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