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Perks given to Dehiwela-Galkissa Municipal Council overseer irk residents
View(s):A section of residents in Dehiwala-Galkissa are up in arms over the conduct of an ordinary overseer at the Dehiwala-Galkissa Municipal Council who has allegedly amassed a fortune. Angered residents have forwarded petitions to President Rajapaksa, the Police Department and the Office of the Commissioner of Bribery and Corruption with copies to the private media.
An official vehicle being used to drop one of the overseer’s daughter.
The residents alleged the man, a close confidant of Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga, is also in possession of an official vehicle and uses it for his personal work. The petition charges that this individual is known to collect commissions from municipal car parks and canteens, disregarding standard tender procedures.
The petition charges that this individual has a criminal record and has been involved in attempted murder, robbery and being in possession of an unlicensed firearm. A member from the main opposition United National Party (UNP) at the Dehiwala-Galkissa Municipal Council claimed the man was also the unofficial private secretary of Mayor Amaratunga.
However Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga told the Sunday Times the allegations against the overseer were totally false and mischievous.“This man” the Mayor added, “is one of the finest men on my staff and is tasked with a huge volume of work which involves the supervision of nearly 300 workers. “Some may not like his style of discipline and therefore are looking for ways of getting him out.
“I have issued him a vehicle for official purposes, there is no evidence to suggest that it is being used in a private capacity. If that is the case then I will go into the matter at the earliest”, Mr. Amaratunga said. He also denied allegations the overseer was collecting commission from Municipal operations in areas such as the car parks canteens etc.
The Municipal Commissioner of the Dehiwala-Galkissa Municipal Council K. Muthugala said four vehicles had been assigned to the Mayor’s personal staff for official work. They cannot be used in a private capacity he added. The Commissioner said he was not aware of the misuse of that particular vehicle by the overseer and added, vehicles were only provided to the Mayor’s personal staff such as his private secretary and co-ordinating secretary etc.
“An overseer does not fall into this category and if that is the case then something is wrong somewhere”, Mr. Muthugala said.