The Government has made a controversial move to scrap the traditional tender system to purchase essential goods for the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) which trade sectors say could lead to corruption and malpractices.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to do away with the tender system and instead float a public company to handle imports of essential items.
The decision came under attack from former Trade Minister, A.R. Munsoor. He said if the internationally recognised tender system, a mode to prove the transparency in a deal, is removed, the CWE could easily fall prey to corruption and malpractices, which would eventually bring about a rise in the cost of living rather than a decline.
But Trade Minister Kingley T. Wickramaratne defended the government decision saying that during the past years, there had been irregularities in tender procedures which saw many shady deals, facilitating only a few favoured parties, who benefited in millions of rupees. "This had a direct impact on the ever-rising cost of living," he said.
Mr. Wickramaratne said a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, appointed to look into the COL and take action, had decided to do away with the tender system in an attempt to bring down the high prices.
Ex-Minister Munsoor commenting on the issue said the tender system was normally formulated to the advantage of the lowest bidder and that meant the benefits would be passed onto the poor. "By setting up of a public company this concept is lost.” He said either open bidding or auctioning should replace tenders if at all it was to be abolished.
The CWE had been rocked by corruption during the past several years, which prompted the Government to appoint a committee to probe the allegations. Recently the Cairman of the CWE was removed on the grounds of failing to prevent malpractices.
The move to scrap the tender system comes in the aftermath of sky-rocketing cost of living, which the back benchers of the PA have been highlighting as a serious problem.
Troops engaged in 'Operation Seda Pahara' killed at least five terrorists on Friday, when they advanced southwards into the Kirimachchai and Sampukulam areas in the Batticaloa district.
According to terrorist radio transmission monitored by the security forces a large number of terrorists were injured and carried into the Angudavillu jungle. Later an air strike was carried out in the jungles to destroy the fleeing terrorists.
One soldier was injured during the day's operation and was later evacuated to the Batticaloa Hospital. The forces recovered a T56 weapon from the scene of the incident.
Meanwhile at around 8.30 p.m. the same day at Pattaimeni in the Walikamam area, a group of terrorists ambushed an army vehicle and killed two security forces personnel.
Later on the same day, troops recovered 100 hand grenades and 10 x 60 motor shells, on a tip off given by a civilian, from the Urumpirai area in the Walikamam division.
The DUNLF in a statement also reiterated that discussions on the devolution proposals through the Select Committee should be separated from abolition of the executive presidency and the two issues should not be linked at the proposed referendum either.
The DUNLF warning came a few days after Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, known to be close to the President, said any of the coalition partners in the PA failing to follow the Alliance policies, would have to quit. Mr. Samaraweera did not name the party but it was an obvious reference to the DUNLF.
The DUNLF in its statement said:
"It is with the understanding and belief that the Executive Presidency will be abolished, that the DUNLF, joined the People's Alliance to contest the last general elections, and to form the Government. The People's Alliance Manifesto states that:- "The Executive Presidential system, which was been the bane of our country since 1978, will be abolished as a matter of the highest priority and the supremacy of the people's political will restored by means of a return without delay to the system of Cabinet and Parliamentary Government.
" Even thoughnthe government set the date of abolition of the executive presidency as July 15, 1995. with subsequent developments , it has now been included in the discussion of the select committee on Constitutional Reforms".
The price of liquor and cigarettes was increased from Friday midnight, Excise Commissioner General W.N.F. Chandraratne said.
Prices of all local arrack and foreign liquor will go up by Rs. 10 per bottle, and locally produced Bristol and Goldleaf cigarettes by 25 cents and 50 cents respectively, according to Mr. Chandraratne.
A letter from a Sri Lanka who was deeply shocked and grieved on seeing the neglected state of the place where Lord Buddha is said to have passed away, has prompted Indian authorities to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
Upali Salgado from Ratmalana, on his return from India recently, wrote to the Indian High Commission here pointing out the neglected state of the place near Kushinagar Buddhist Temple.
He said the iron fence, erected some 60 years ago, enclosing a small shrine room at the site, looked unattended and the walls of the shrine room were covered with moss and the yard overgrown with shrubs. Mr Salgado also noted there was no drainage system at the place.
The Indian High Commission here, wrote to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which in turn instructed the authorities concerned to renovate and protect the place.
The Indian mission had informed Mr. Salgado that steps had been taken to preserve this particular spot. The site is now well protected and is being kept neat and clean. Steps are also being taken to build a drainage system and a new fence.
Venezuelan beauty Jacqueline Aguilera arrived here on Friday to participate in several charity events.
The reigning Miss World visited two orphanages yesterday and will flag off the seventh annual SLANA health run at Galle face green today.
On Friday, Jacqueline was hosted to tea by Media and Tourism Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake. After the event, the Tourist Board extended to her an invitation to visit Sri Lanka again and see more of the country.
Tourist Board sources were pleased to confirm that the beautiful Miss World has accepted the invitation and agreed to come again to our island nation next January, after she has completed her duties as Miss World.
Her visit is expected to raise much needed funding for the running of the orphanages as well as generate more anti-drug awareness among the youth. Her presence and support to the drug cause will give the campaign more focus, SLANA President Tony Alles said.
Her visit is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Colombo East and West and SLANA. It is sponsored by the E.A.P. Edirisinghe Group of Companies.
The Sunday Times today carries a special eight-page supplement on the visit of Miss World, with exclusive pictures and interviews.
The UNP will make an announcement within the next few days regarding its stand on devolution, party spokesman Karunasena Kodituwakku said.
He said the UNP's stand would be mainly based on discussions it had with the five Tamil parties earlier this month.
"The UNP is firm on Article 2 regarding the unitary state and we will under no circumstances support a federal form of government. What we see in the proposed union of regions is a subtle form of a federal state," Dr. Kodituwakku said.
He said the UNP would continue to maintain its position agianst the merger of the North and East. It would also seriously consider non-teritorial power sharing.
On the unit of devolution, he said, the UNP's vision was focused on smaller units. Giving more power and resources to the Pradeshiya Sabhas and the Provincial Councils would be effective. "We are talking about using the 13th amendment in a more constructive way," he said.
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