No money for DB, CBK next year

No allocations have been made for the offices of the former presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and D. B. Wijetunga in the budget for next year.

In this year’s budget, Rs 7.3 million in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 100,000 in capital expenditure were allocated for the office of former President Wijetunga while Rs 14.5 million in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 3.4 million in capital expenditure were allocated for the Office of former President Kumaratunga.

However these two allocations have been completely slashed in the 2008 Appropriation Bill. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga wrote to both the ex-Presidents last week asking them to wind up their offices with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, “without delay” quit notices issued to former President Kumaratunga’s residence/office at No. 27, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7 and former President Wijetunga’s office at Summit Flats saw a hive of activity at both places this week with nearly all casual and contract employees receiving letters terminating their employment and permanent employees being readied to be transferred to the Public Administration Ministry.

The two respective Secretaries also sent written appeals to Presidential Secretary Weeratunga asking more time to settle bills, finalise accounts and to have them audited prior to closing down the offices.

Ex-President Kumaratunga’s Secretary P. Dissanayake told The Sunday Times they as public servants were duty bound to carry out orders, especially emanating from the Supreme Court and therefore he had already issued letters terminating employment of 12 casual and contract employees and he was getting the balance15 employees transferred to the Ministry.