News

News

CBK wanted Rs. 2.5 million for volunteer architect
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has asked the government for Rs. 2.5 million cash for architect Ashley de Vos for helping in tsunami rehabilitation work in Galle but he said he never asked for the money.
He told The Sunday Times that he did not expect payment, and worked on a voluntary basis.

The story has come to light as officials in the Presidential Secretariat are scrutinizing how relief work connected with the December 2004 tsunami was carried out.

In a letter to her Secretary W.J.S. Karunaratne, dated October 19, 2005 titled "Galle City Development Project," Ms Kumaratunga, then President, has said "Mr Ashley de Vos has been assisting in the Tsunami Rehabilitation work from the very inception on a request made by me personally to him. He has also contributed immensely to the preliminary work of the Galle City Development Project."

Mr de Vos told The Sunday Times yesterday "I worked for 12 months on this project without payment. It is on a voluntary basis." The Sunday Times Insight Team obtained a copy of former President Kumaratunga's letter. She adds: "Up to date he (Mr. de Vos) has not been remunerated at all for the service he has rendered. Please make necessary arrangements to pay him a monthly financial remuneration of Rs 250,000 w.e.f. January 2005. "

Ms Kumaratunga adds: "The Galle City Development Project has already taken off the ground and the preliminary work has already been done. The Committee appointed to co-ordinate this work is finding it difficult to proceed with the work due to lack of funds. Please arrange to release Rs 10 million as recurrent expenditure for this project from the President's Tsunami Relief Fund. The payment to Mr. de Vos could be made from this allocation. Also discuss with Chairman TAFFREN regarding the allocation of funds for the project."
A query raised by senior Government officials now scrutinizing how tsunami relief work was carried out ask how funds meant for rehabilitation work could be paid out to those who voluntarily ventured to help in a human tragedy of such high magnitude.

That too ten months after voluntary work was carried out, they point out.
A total sum of US $ 7.5 billion was pledged to Sri Lanka from foreign governments and international donor agencies, but much of the money was either not received or blocked in the pipeline due to procrastination by the Kumaratunga government.

A senior government official handling these accounts said it was "unfortunate" that under such circumstances where unprecedented funds were available for the government post-tsunami, that the President had to make a case saying there was a lack of funds - and to also request funds for a professional who had volunteered his services.

Top

Back to News