By Tania Fernando
The engineering section of SriLankan Airlines has stocks worth over millions of rupees, but continues to buy new stocks even though those in the stores could be used.
Airline sources said the engineering stores had stocks of metal sheets, nuts and bolts worth almost Rs. 100 million. However, the management had reportedly given instructions not to use them as they did not carry the batch number.
They said an aluminium sheet would cost around Rs. 135,000 and a nut and bolt US$ 75.
These items had been bought prior to the takeover by Emirates. When the airline sold all the Tristars to a Canadian company, they had permitted them to take whatever stocks they needed. "The stocks they took were more valuable than the Tri Stars they bought", sources said.
The aluminium, titanium and stainless steel sheets which were lying in the stores could be used for any of the aircraft. However, they bought new stocks when necessary as the documents pertaining to the items too had been lost. The management had claimed they needed quality approval, sources said.
"Prior to the take over, we used to buy items and there was no requirement for quality approval," an official said.
He said when new orders were given, the order was being processed through Emirates and they kept a 20% kick back on all items purchased by them. Even though the goods were purchased from London and SriLankan Airlines flew to London, the goods were flown to Dubai and airfreighted to Colombo on Emirates. Therefore, the airfreight for carrying the cargo had to be paid to Emirates, sources said.
Meanwhile, 18 electronic items had been removed from some of the air craft. Video equipment, entertainment systems which were removed had been sold at a low price, airline sources said.
They said although the company had not paid the 13th month salary last month, claiming losses, if the items in the stores were sold, they would have been able to pay that money to the employees, sources said.
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Our Lobby Correspondent
It is said that a skilfully prepared budget would gently remove feathers without hurting the bird. Government legislators, and some Tamil party representatives obviously felt that way about the budget while the PA and JVP considered this an apology of a budget squeezing the common man's neck while adding to the hoards of the affluent class.
But the nuances of fine budgetary making became less significant with the PA and the JVP displaying their preoccupation with the arrival of LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham in Sri Lanka and speakers opting to give vent to their feelings about his arrival than discuss matters financial.
The first to fire his salvo was PA's Nimal Siripala de Silva on Monday who had a barrage of questions about Balasingham's arrival as a member of a banned organisation and whether this violated immigration laws of the land. "Who issued the visa and for what? Doesn't the facilitation of his visit amount to treason," thundered he.
Former Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who made an appearance after a long absence made a speech which was a clear departure from a confrontational opposition stance.
Using words sparingly, he upheld the ceasefire agreement as a precursor to talks, and one that should be made to work for the benefit of all.
"The people of this country have decreed that a PA President should work with a UNP government. The message is clear that they want us to learn the essential lesson of cohabitation. If the two main political parties cannot learn this fundamental lesson, how can we pursue common goals or try to build confidence with others," he asked amidst thundering applause from government benchers.
In pindrop silence, the senior legislator noted that much could be learned from the past, so that the future path may prove less arduous. Voicing the sentiments of many a concerned citizen, he said that while the PA stood fully committed to the present peace process, the peace talks should have certain basic ingredients as the foundation- one country, one capital, one army and the rejection of the traditional homeland concept.
" If the talks begin within such a framework the PA would support it completely" he said, this time, to the opposition's applause. He also wanted to know what repercussions would be there for a party seeking to terminate the agreement.
"We have opened roads, removed barriers, relaxed many regulations and created an atmosphere conducive for talks. But what happens if things go wrong? What protective mechanisms are there or the people who would be made to pay for the folly of a few," he asked.
TNA leader M. Sivasithamparam who was next voiced concern over the defence allocation when a truce was operative.
"Is it that you don't trust the Tamils to honour the agreement? You shouldn't only open the A-9 route to ensure supplies, but also open hearts and minds to the Tamils and learn to build trust," he said.
Explaining the travails of the people of North, he said that some industrialists have offered to build two five star hotels in the war ravaged area. " They are luxuries, and unaffordable and insignificant to the people of Jaffna who yearn for different things. They want schools, hospitals, roads, renovation of tanks and the opportunity to plough their lands," he said.
The whip cracking on the budget itself began with PA general secretary D.M. Jayaratne who gave his own version of economics as he accused the government of getting into heavy debt causing adverse ripples in all sectors, eventually leading to high inflation.
"I inherited my father's lands and fields and want my children to inherit these lands. It is an ancient tradition but this ill advised budget seeks to facilitate foreigners to whimsically purchase lands. Some day your children would curse you for selling your assets and denying the right to own some land through treachery to make a fast buck," he charged.
As Mr. Jayaratne ended his delivery on a poetic note with two "budget kavis", former colleague Bandula Gunawardane, in response listed the many sins of the PA regime which he said had placed immense burdens on the UNF and confined its scope.
Mr. Gunawardane said that debt, financial mismanagement and corruption had collectively destroyed the economy during the past few years, and went on to give the losses incurred by various government institutions last year.
"We recorded a negative growth rate for the first time in post independence, and though the official estimated budget deficit was 8.5%, in truth it was over 11%," he said.
Treading similar ground was tertiary education minister Kabir Hashim who noted that all that remained was the bare carcass and that the UNP had been entrusted with a massive economic rebuilding task after seven years of corrupt and abusive rule.
"Incidentally, Sri Lanka ranked 62 in the sub index on corruption also recording high public debt. The cost of the conflict is enormous, and it is more than financial. It is about displacement, loss of lives and properties, polarization of people and disruption of their lifestyle. This country bleeds in more ways than one" he said.
Scoffing at the UNP for the plethora of pledges ranging from peace to relief was JVP's Wimal Weerawansa who thought this budget certainly promised much to some- UNP's financiers. " This is a budget to assist the business mafia that helped the UNP to gain power and in that sense, this budget is a long term payment by the UNF to its backup support," he thundered.
Economic advancement, he observed could not be attained by selling national assets like corporations. It also cannot be achieved by renaming the taxes or by rhetoric. But the UNP has proved that it is a subsidy of the Maharaja Group, unable to free itself from the bondages of the past.
Calling the budget a 'development budget' was UNP's Gayantha Karunathileke who said that had this been presented before the elections with its many beneficial proposals, it would have been condemned as an election budget seeking to hoodwink the voting public.
As he listed the 'virtues' of the budget, JVPers also got galvanized into action, and questioned each statement. "You promised a Rs. 2000 dole to youth" chimed in the JVP, and Karunathileke responded: " No, a Youth Corp" and more opportunity for university students. No, replied the JVPers. The undergraduates received a baton charge, bruises and a rejection of demands."
The JVP also indulged in Balasingham bashing. Anura Dissanayake moved an adjournment motion on Tuesday seeking to clarify how a leader of a banned organization travels, and obtained visa.
" Who else actually came? What was the strength of the group? Who piloted the seaplane? Did they bring in supplies or any arms? Was the Sri Lankan security forces made aware of this visit and allowed to check the group's belongings?" he asked.
He asked why the government compromised so much to enter talks with the LTTE injuring the nation's pride with a single act of betrayal. "If any laws were breached, it was with government blessings," he charged.
But Minister John Amaratunge avoided the loaded questions as he carefully explained that no laws, neither international nor local had been broken and that Balasingham had been issued a valid visa.
Enjoying the repartee, the minister scoffed at the JVP for its sudden nationalistic fervour. "When you wanted Somawansa Amarasinghe to arrive with a forged passport, it was alright. When Varatharaja Perumal who should have been charged for treason for the unilateral declaration of a ceasefire arrived, he was accorded VIP treatment and included in the PA national list. Both were illegal unlike this visit which has carefully covered all the angles," he said mirthfully.
With more attention being given to Balasingham than to the budget itself, it was the labour and employment minister who noted in his speech that it was always easy to condemn or to pass judgement. It was more difficult to make things work. "The UNP was trying to make things work and have taken careful steps while the PA's prophets of doom are busy working overtime, perhaps to sabotage the last chance for a permanent peace," he charged.
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