SLFP Convention Swallows Up Rs. 9 mn Of State Funds
The gymnastics display at the SLFP National Convention
By Mandana ismail Abeywickrema
The misuse of state funds and resources for the recently held SLFP National Convention has come to light with details of millions of rupees spent on the gymnastics display alone, being made public.
The National Youth Services Council (NYSC) at a cost close to Rs. 9 million had organised the gymnastics display for the SLFP National Convention. The NYSC had organised a gymnastics workshop from November 9 to 16 with the participation of about 2,400 children.
The project report on the workshop organised by the NYSC with the Ministry being named as the funding source
The gymnastics display at the SLFP convention ironically was held on the final day of the workshop.
The project report on the ‘aerobics gymnastics workshop’ prepared by Youth Services Officer II, Sirimal Jayaratne states, financial assistance for the project would be received from the Youth Affairs Ministry and other sponsors.
The estimated cost of the workshop according to the project report is Rs. 8,957,000 (Rs. 8.9 million). Of the estimated cost, over Rs. 5 million has been allocated for the provision of food to 2,600 young girls for six and a half days.
Cost of transport
Another Rs. 2.4 million has been allocated to meet the transport cost of participants with each being paid a sum of Rs. 1,000. The rest of the cost covers expenses on fuel, stationery, first aid, sanitary labourer’s charges, transport and other expenses and overtime.
The major part of the funding had come from the Youth Affairs Ministry.
The fact that public funds were utilised to add colour to the SLFP convention shocked even the legislators last week.
The agreement signed between the NYSC and Ranathisara Builders to provide food to the participants
The funds spent on the NYSC workshop, which ended with the participants performing a gymnastics display at the SLFP convention was raised in parliament on Tuesday (17).
JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti after explaining details about the NYSC ‘gymnastics workshop’ and the participants performing at the SLFP national convention, questioned whether the Youth Affairs Ministry had received cabinet approval to allocate funds for the workshop, which was aimed at putting together a gymnastics display for a convention of a political party.
He noted that the Ministry should have obtained cabinet approval before allocating funds for the project as the estimated cost was close to Rs. 9 million.
Handunnetti added that the Ministry Secretary had been unable to respond to his queries.
Cannot use public funds
He told The Sunday Leader that a political party could not use public funds and resources for a national convention.
“The cash strapped government on the one hand acts to increase its loan borrowings to Rs. 210,000 million while on the other wastes close to Rs. 10 million on a gymnastics display for its party’s national convention,” Handunnetti said.
He also expressed doubts over the company chosen by the NYSC to provide prepared meals to the participants during the course of the ‘workshop.’
The food provided to the participants was subject to scrutiny when several girls who participated in the programme were hospitalised a few days before the convention with severe food poisoning.
The contract to provide prepared meals for the workshop was given to ‘Ranathisara Builders’ from Kurunegala.
The agreement between the NYSC and Ranathisara Builders was signed on November 6. The amount agreed as payment for the prepared food to Ranathisara Builders was Rs. 5,101,824 (Rs. 5.1 million) inclusive of VAT.
Irregularity denied
However, the NYSC officials denied any irregularity in handing over the contract to provide cooked meals to this company.
“The government tender procedures were followed when choosing the company,” NYSC Director General, Bhashvara Senanka Gunaratne said.
As for the girls who were taken ill due to food poisoning, Gunaratne said the participants did not suffer from food poisoning but from a physical ailment due to the strenuous exercises involved in gymnastics.
However, the funding for the project according to the Director General was channeled through several sources.
Youth Affairs Ministry Secretary, S. Virithamulla said that while the NYSC is allocated funds by the Ministry for various projects for the empowerment and development of youth, the Ministry officials did not look into every single project initiated by the council.
He told The Sunday Leader that the NYSC was currently carrying out many projects for the youth and that the gymnastics workshop may have been one such project.
“The Council is empowered to take decisions in relation to projects implemented by it,” he said.
Funds for the workshop
When asked if the Youth Affairs Ministry allocated funds for the gymnastics workshop where the participants finally ended their course by performing a gymnastics display at the SLFP National Convention, Virithamulla said the NYSC received funds from the Ministry, sponsors, donors and even earned funds on their own.
As for the respective gymnastics workshop, the Ministry Secretary
did not give a direct response as to whether the Ministry actually funded the programme. However, the project report on the workshop has clearly stated the source of funding was to be from the Youth Affairs Ministry and sponsors.
Meanwhile, NYSC Director General Gunaratne said the workshop was not held targeting the SLFP Convention.
According to Gunaratne, the NYSC was currently in the process of forming a gymnastics team that could be booked for private performances by making the necessary payment.
“It will be like the NYSC dancing troupe. The gymnastics troupe could also be booked for various events,” he said.
He observed that the gymnastics group was ‘booked’ for the SLFP convention.
“We get contracts and the participation at the SLFP convention was also part of a contract,” Gunaratne said, adding that the NYSC received a payment and other benefits for participating at the convention.
However, he declined to comment as to how much was received as payment for the performance at the convention, from whom, and the benefits received by the Council.
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One rule for MR and the SLFP and another suffering rule for you and me.
I am now ashamed of even my name..Chinthana as it is associated and common with wastage, corruption, and a lot of shame.
I wonder if our big wig politicians who preach and speak about Dhamma etc..have any sense of shame…
I would like to be proud of my country( which I am ) but I cannot say the same of the leaders and the present Govt.
Corruption is now blatant and disregard for the common masses and proper governance by MR and his stooges has reached a low ebb.
I hope and pray that something good and better for our country will take place sooner rather than later..and to this I believe a person like Gen Sarath Fonseka is the answer.
Dear IMF Chief,
Please can you give us few more millions USD we need them badly .
as long as this kind of misuse of public funds & corruption, this country will never develop and remains a Banana republic. fish always smells from the head. so when the leaders(theHead) is corrupt, what do you expect from the public. SL has no Leaders with Vision, Patrotic words are only to get the votes,and to come to power.are the SL voters are still so foolish.may god bless Lanka.
This is not the first time this cursed Govt misused poor tax payers money. From day 1 it was like that. Just to remind Mihin Air filled with loyalist going on pleasure trips and foreign. minister having birth day parties for siblings for 45 lakhs in USA, and what about the rest of 111 jokers living like kings…This is the most corrupt govt .we had all our lives. Long live MR
Priyani..don’t call them 111 jokers…they know what they need to do after joining politics and guess all the jokers have done well..for themselves and their families,commencing from right at the top.
So the joke is on you and me for voting the rascals/cheats and thieves into parliament…Vote in a hurry and repent in leisure.,
Do you really think that MR and his band of rogues really care ..They haven’t cared for years,,so what different is it for them now..Unless some election is round the corner..
Use the broomstick to shoo them away if they come to canvass for votes..Shamelss idiots will still come around with their pandang karayas to ask for your vote,without shame or guilt.
Guess this trend is being set by the boss himself..so others just follow and fill up pockets and stomachs.
Shee Shee..shame shame
I think it’s fair to use 9 million for a convention like this and I am surprised that they could budget it so well. I do take the point from Priyani Perera that Bogg spent 4.5 million for a birthday party but in comparison this is fantastic budgeting. I applaud everyone from the SLFP for managing this very well. Jaya Wewa
doesent matter,,, will get funds from IMF again,,, God Bless Mahinda n Family,,,
All these to boost the ego of the ruling class who have no regard for the public. This is such a disgrace. My hatred and contempt goes out to them.
[...] printing shoddy money with the current President on it, right before an election. Or spending Rs. 9 million of state funds on a gymnastics display at the SLFP party convention. Among other [...]
lets beat this corrupt rajapakse regime
I think they are already beaten ..UNless they do the usual and cheat/rig the elections..If not , the Rajapakses are history and will soon be facing many enquiries for their corrupt and crooked ways.
His Majesty Rajapakse, the King of Sri Lanka must be able to spend the money of his kingdom according to his own wishes. Who are you to question or condemn that. If you continue to attack his entitlement to spend his money (subjects have no right for the money) he will put you under the care of his joker king Dutugemunu the Gutike Silva.
Nepotism and cronyism that thrive in the present day context are the main causes for this situation. It’s unfortunate that high ranking public servants ponder more to the whims and fancies of the Rajapaksha brothers than looking into the best interests of the country. It is sad to see that those who are able to resist such action are a few and far between in our country.
All I can say to the MR brothers is- in the name of God GO. The majority of the voters have so much contempt and hatred for you.
CORRUPTIONS CORRUPTIONS AND MORE CORRUPTIONS,WHEN SRI LANKANS SEE THE HONEST GOVERNMENT?.?????????????????.
i think corruption is Rajapaksa’s family background if this continue … country will become more worser then somaliya, and only rajapaksa family live in America.
he his a big thief should cut of from president seat. inteligent people shoud time to think and vote for right person. NOOOO Rajapaksa and no rajapaksa family kick kick kick.