The government took prompt action on last week’s report in the Sunday Times FT exposing a conflict of interest in the Secretary to the Ministry of Construction and Engineering Services and the reconstruction of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) building.
In a fresh order this week, the Ministry said work should be expedited in the reconstruction of the IRD building and empowered the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) to implement procurement procedures under the supervision of the Ministry. The estimated cost for reconstruction is Rs.1.04 billion and work should be completed by the SEC by December 2009.
Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, thanking the Sunday Times FT for raising these issues in last week’s report, said he convened a meeting of senior officials of the Ministry and SEC including the Secretary Nissanka N Wijeratne, Additional Secretary U..W. Rodrigo, and SEC Chairman B.V.S.K de Silva on Tuesday. He directed the officials to immediately follow the directive issued by him in a letter to the secretary which was highlighted in the Sunday Times FT report last week.
The Secretary has been directed to appoint SEC General Manager Tudor Wijenayake as the Chairman of the Department Procurement Committee, replacing the Grade two officer Lakmini Nonis of the SEC Jitendra Lal de Silva, DGM consultancy of the SEC has been appointed Chairman technical evaluation committee with immediate effect.
SEC Chairman Silva noted that evaluation and award of tenders should be done within a period of five days after tenders close as otherwise it will be seriously affect the handing over of the project for which SEC is liable to a payment of Rs. 500,000 for each delayed day.
He said that the IRD spends Rs.200 million monthly as rentals for the buildings they have leased
out to continue its operations till the completion of the reconstruction work of their head office building
Minister Senaratne instructed all officials to expedite the tender procedures to save the rental money. The IRD building in Fort was severely damaged on February 20 in an LTTE attack.
Meanwhile Secretary Wijeratne cancelled his scheduled visit to Libya on Wednesday - to explore building construction opportunities for Sri Lankans - citing personnel reasons. Instead SEC Chairman Silva has undertaken this official tour to Sri Lanka get S$500 million worth of building construction contracts.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Minister Senaratne, responding to an official who complained about the newspaper report, said it was the duty of a newspaper to divulge facts in the name of public interest and the responsibility of the authorities to verify such facts and take remedial action.
He told officials that it is immaterial to find out as to who gave information to the news paper. Rather it was essential to take prompt action if the facts are true.
Last week’s report
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