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With more and more stories being said and others written about mansions, houses and palaces here is the story of how it has cost the country a massive Rs. 25 million rupees for the refurbishment of a ministry office complex.
A staggering amount of six million rupees has been spent on chairs alone.
The refurbishment of the auditorium and minister's quarters on the second floor at Sethsiripaya for the use of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, has cost Rs. 25,406,171.86.
A letter dated October 16, 2001 addressed to the Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities Ministry Secretary by Director General Urban Development Authority W.A. Siriwardena states as follows.
This is further to my letter dated 27 June 2001 regarding the above.
The UDA has incurred the following expenditure for the project.
Demolition and Civil Works Rs.. 1,068,581.35, Chairs Rs. 6,551,903.42, Glass wash basins Rs. 82,237.50, Partitions Rs.. 3,589,216.66, Furniture Rs. 2,553,646.62, Data and Telephone Cabling Rs. 708,287.83, Lighting and Power Rs. 2,601,480.39, Carpets Rs. 678,197.12, Ceiling Rs. 1,794,549.44, Art Works Rs. 291,500.00, PABX System with Instruments Rs. 696,375., Tiling Rs. 2,423,389.50, Signage Rs. 31,113.78, Venetian Blinds Rs. 218,878.67, Sculptures Rs. 225,000.00 and Consultancy fees Rs. 1,891,794.68.
The last para states that "it will be not feasible to UDA to increase the rent to cover the cost of the project. Therefore please make arrangements to release Rs. 25.5 million to the UDA to settle financial commitments of the UDA".
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti
The UNP-led United National Front will launch its political campaign with a public rally in Kandy tomorrow with party leaders and several PA rebels addressing the inaugural rally.
Assistant leader Gamini Atukorale said that PA defectors and a host of others representing various fields would join their campaign including artistes, intellectuals and civic rights organization members. The electoral campaign has been entrusted to UNP assistant leader Atukorale and former Samurdhi affairs minister S.B. Dissanayake. Prof. G.L. Peiris who is also the UNF spokesman will be responsible for briefing the diplomatic community and human rights organizations here and abroad on the conduct of the campaign.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told The Sunday Times that the party's campaign would concentrate on solving the ethnic conflict, addressing the economic downturn and reducing the cost of living.
" The people have to make a choice this time. They have paid for their previous choice in 1994, and this is the last opportunity to launch a salvage operation. This country has taken all it can and now we need a few years of concentrated governance to overcome the many burdens the PA has placed on the people," he said.
At least 35 women's and human rights groups made a public appeal yesterday to all political parties for a free and fair election and to desist from violence against women on December 5.
'We request all leaders of political parties to ensure their campaigns are conducted without acts of violence and intimidation that prevent the conduct of a free and fair election,' the signatories said in a statement coordinated by the Centre for Women's Research.
It urged parties to refrain from adversarial politics and to include important issues such as peace, economic development, law and order, human rights including the rights of minorities and women in their manifestos.
Starkly demonstrating the high prevalence of nepotism in South East Asian politics, there are candidates from the same family in addition to many who share close blood ties contesting the general election on December 5.
Leading the list is Vidura Wickremanayake, son of Prime minister Ratnasiri Wickremanaayke along with Anura, brother of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
Some of the key candidates are father and son duo, Alick and Ranjith Aluvihare from Matale and father and daughter combination in Ratnapura in the form of Dharmadasa and Pavithra Wanniarachchi. Celebrity candidate former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga will contest from Colombo while his father Reggie Ranatunga has entered the fray from their home base in Minuwangoda.
Proving it to be very much a family business, in Colombo two sons of former UNP politicians have entered the fray. Lilantha, son of late Christe B. Perera and Jayantha, late UNP minister Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi's son contesting for the second time.
In Gampaha, UNP district leader Karu Jayasuriya will contest while his son -in-law Naveen Dissanayake will also contest on the UNP ticket as Nuwara Eliya district leader.
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