News
Misappropriation via scams, frauds dominate report
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
During the years 2013 and 2014, misappropriation in excess of Rs113 million had taken place in 16 instances such as through the preparation of forged documents, taking action contrary to Procurement Guidelines, incurring losses due to irregular and excess payments, financial misappropriation for political and personal affairs, misuse of money on television advertisements and programmes, and making expenses for activities extraneous to the objectives.
Sri Lanka Football Federation
A financial fraud amounting to Rs 12.7 million had been committed using forged order papers to fraudulently obtain a donation of Rs.6.29 million (US$ 40,400) received from the Italy Football Players Association, for renovation of the Kalutara football playground, and the host’s aid of Rs.6.41 million (US$ 59,900) from the Asian Football Federation Chairman’s Trophy tournament, from the bank accounts.
National Transport Commission (NTC)
Issue of 13 passenger bus service permits for the Southern Expressway on a temporary basis for the festive period from April 9-22, 2014, without following a proper method.
Without NTC Board approval and at the discretion of its Chairman, the period of the temporary permits had been irregularly extended on 10 instances for 5 months, up to September 2, 2014. Further, no legal provisions had been made for the extension of the period of the temporary permits.
Department of Prisons- Financial Control Weaknesses
Instructions had been issued that fingerprinting machines be made use of to record arrival and departure of officers. However, despite the installation of fingerprinting machines at Welikada Prison and the Prison Hospital in September 2009, they had not been properly maintained and were non-operational, while overtime payment of Rs 20,506,988 had been made for 2013, based on attendance registers maintained under the control of the officers. As such, the accuracy of the overtime payments could not be confirmed.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau
On the pretext of producing 8,000 T-shirts to celebrate World Tourism Day 2014, a sum of Rs 5.82 million had been spent contrary to Government Procurement Guidelines, using forged documents, and used to promote a particular party at the elections.