The newly-appointed Board of Directors of the Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation (BNMF) is allegedly attempting to halt several key projects initiated under the previous board, according to sources within the foundation.
Under the current National People’s Power (NPP) Government, six new directors have been appointed to the BNMF, which manages the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
The BNMF is a non-profit organisation that operates independently without State funding, running several institutions and projects, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, using funds it generates internally.
Sources told The Sunday Morning that the foundation currently holds deposits amounting to around Rs. 5 billion, built up from its earnings since 2015 after meeting all project-related expenses.
The previous board, which had functioned voluntarily since 2015 under the chairpersonship of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, had initiated several projects during its tenure. Kumaratunga is still serving as the foundation’s Chairperson.
However, inside sources allege that the newly-appointed board is seeking an allowance for attending board meetings and has already halted several key initiatives launched by the former board.
Among these are the proposed establishment of Sri Lanka’s first Science Park in collaboration with a Canadian company and a joint project with the George Keyt Foundation to set up a George Keyt museum.
“The new board has stopped these projects that were already in progress,” a source said, adding that many such initiatives had now stalled.
Multiple attempts to contact Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, under whose purview the BNMF falls, regarding the allegations made, proved futile.
Meanwhile, BNMF staff informed The Sunday Morning to reach out tomorrow (2) for comments.
Built between 1970 and 1973 as a gift from the People’s Republic of China, the BMICH is one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent convention centres. Its management and maintenance fall under the purview of the BNMF.