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Alleged corruption leaves 1,300 multi-day boats without vital equipment
View(s):Funds meant to buy equipment to be fixed on fishing vessels have been returned to the Treasury as officials responsible for the purchase allegedly demanded commissions from sellers, an official meeting was told this week.
Accordingly Rs. 2.3 billion had been returned by the Fisheries Ministry to the Treasury as the officials failed to award the contracts to suppliers of three different items needed by fishermen to conform to European Union regulations.
The equipment, which includes vessel monitoring systems and fish finders, was due to be fitted on 1,300 multi-day fishing boats.
Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera at a meeting he presided over, raised questions as to why the funds had to be returned to the Treasury because of the failure to work out the contract.
During the meeting officials blamed each other for demanding commissions from companies to award the contract.
Fisheries Ministry Secretary Mangalika Adhikari confirmed that the funds had been returned as they had not been put to use.
She said she was preparing a report to be submitted to the Minister.
Mr. Amaraweera said action would be taken against those responsible for the failure to work out the tenders and implement the project.
One of the key requirements of the EU to lift the ban on fish exports to European countries was that the vessel monitoring system should be fitted in boats. The ban was lifted this year enabling Sri Lanka to resume exports to EU countries.