Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Chairman Dr. Senarath Hewage was relieved of his duties over charges of corruption, while its Director General (DG) Engineer D. Sajjana De Silva, against whom allegations were levelled by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Leader and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, has been sent on compulsory leave, The Morning learnt.
Dissanayaka revealed in Parliament on 2 December that four GSMB employees were suspended of their duties by De Silva for engaging in a media briefing held by a trade union for the protection of workers’ rights to expose corruption in their institution, and claimed that De Silva had no authority to do so as the DG.
When contacted by The Morning this week, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that he would be inquiring into the matter. Dr. Jasinghe also said that the Environment Minister is the disciplinary authority of the GSMB, and that the Minister can appoint and remove officials with substantial reasoning and the concurrence of the GSMB Board.
Speaking to The Morning in March of this year (2022), engineer and former GSMB Chairman Prof. Anura Walpola levelled several allegations against De Silva, following Prof. Walpola’s “irregular” removal as GSMB Chairman on 10 February 2022, 13 days before GSMB officials were due to meet the Committee on Public Enterprises.
Prof. Walpola said that De Silva was appointed as the Acting DG on the basis of seniority following the retirement of the former DG in 2020 because the GSMB Board could not physically meet due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prof. Walpola further said that the Board physically met after the lockdown period, and that De Silva’s appointment had not received approval, but that the latter had brought a letter from then-Minister of Environment S.M. Chandrasena, stating that his appointment was approved.
Dissanayake also revealed this letter of appointment by Chandrasena in the Parliament urging the current Minister of Environment Naseer Ahamed to present all information on the appointment of the DG, and the allegations against him to Parliament.