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SJB alleges conflict of interest in traffic project

20 Jul 2021

 
  •  Manusha to table evidence including damning audio 
  •  Further alleges financial corruption/misappropriation
  •  Sarath Weerasekera to respond at next sitting
BY Buddhika Samaraweera  Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara yesterday (20) alleged that two former board members of a certain company that imports equipment needed for a project to modernise the police traffic system, have been appointed as members of a subcommittee appointed to call for a report on the same project. “This proposal states that the equipment required for this project will be imported by a certain company. The advisor you (a reference to Public Security Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera) have appointed to that sub-committee is an individual who has also worked in that private company. He has also served as a member of the board of directors of the said company and I have the relevant appointment letter,” he said, commenting on the sub-committee appointed to prepare a report on the project in Parliament yesterday. Speaking further, Nanayakkara alleged that another person from a state information technology company had also been appointed to the said sub-committee and that he too has also worked as a member of the board of directors of the aforesaid company. Accordingly, a tailor-made Cabinet paper has been submitted as per the wishes of this company (the company which is alleged to be engaged in the importation of the equipment needed for the project), he alleged. Meanwhile, Dr. Weerasekera, who stood up at this point, said: “This matter is not relevant to today’s topic. I can speak and answer if necessary.” Nanayakkara further alleged that the project proposal had been explained to Dr. Weerasekera at a certain individual’s house. “There are information and reports that this matter has been discussed there, where it was stated that ‘the Police receive Rs. 4.7 billion in fines a year and we shall take Rs. 83 million a month from those fines as a rental’. Even the audio recordings pertaining to such are in our possession,” he claimed. Dr. Weerasekera, who stood up again at this juncture, said that instead of making such allegations under parliamentary privileges, it should be done outside. “You should make these allegations outside. I will then file a case seeking compensation,” he added. In response, Nanayakkara said that all relevant files would be tabled in Parliament and that he hoped to lodge complaints with the President and all other relevant authorities too. A proposal submitted to the Police regarding the project in question was tabled by Nanayakkara. Dr. Weerasekera then requested the presiding MP for an opportunity to give a full answer on this matter at the next parliamentary sitting. “I am not saying that you stole. But find out a little bit about this. These officers have been on the board of directors of the company,” Nanayakkara said in reply. Nanayakkara, however, said that the project would be useful and worthwhile if done the right way. “It would be great to modernise this system this way. In the cabinet paper submitted in this regard, it is stated that a sub-committee would be appointed to call a report,” he further noted.


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