Rs.22 mn WB funds squandered on corporate plan: Former TRC management faces probe by CID

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) says the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) had spent a staggering Rs. 22 million on a six-page Corporate Plan in 2000.

COPE sources told The Island that the Auditor General brought the controversial World Bank funded project to the notice of the parliamentary watchdog committee.

Responding to a query, sources said that the Commission to Investigate Cases of Bribery or Corruption had recommended further inquiries by the Criminal Investigation Department.

They said that the current management had acknowledged that the then TRC management carried out the controversial project. Parliament sources said that the present TRC management hadn't been in anyway involved in the racket.

Sources said that the COPE would request the CID to investigate the deal to identify those involved in the transaction, which took place during the PA administration.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General also brought to the notice of the COPE the removal of a luxury vehicle belonging to the TRC in 2000. The COPE suggested that a complaint should be lodged with the police as a previous complaint moved against former PA MP Bandula Basnayake over him clandestinely removing a jeep from the State Timber Corporation prompted the politician to return it.

Opposition sources alleged that the COPE and the Auditor General should explain their failure to inquire into alleged irregularities earlier. Sources said that for want of swift action and the lethargic attitude of those responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability, ministries, corporations and other government institutions continued to squander public funds.

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