News

Public left to bear additional fuel costs due to CPC’s conduct!

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2024

editor

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has expressed displeasure that dishonesty within the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) due into existing dishonesty within the institution, and the deliberate delay of 08 years and 08 months in issuing the relevant circular to filling station owners by its marketing department, has incurred a loss of Rs. 3,416 million for the period 2014-2022.

In this backdrop, COPE was of the view that the marketing department should assume responsibility for committing large-scale fraud to the CPC.
This matter was taken up for discussion recently (19) when COPE met under the Chairmanship of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena to examine the Auditor General’s report for the year 2022 and the current status of the CPC.

The Committee expressed its strong displeasure whilst insisting on holding the corporation’s officials accountable. Furthermore, COPE reiterating to the high officials present that the internal officials of the CPC are clearly responsible for such acts of fraud, inquired as to what actions the CPC has taken in this regard thus far.
Furthermore, COPE directed the CAO/AO to submit a report to the Committee within 7 working days containing the list of names of those affiliated to committing the fraud and the measures the CPC has taken to hold such officials accountable for their wrong doings.

Furthermore, it was disclosed that the public had to bear an additional cost for fuel due to the payment of Rs. 31,021.07 million as extra commission to the distributors.

Due to the overpayment made by the officials, COPE disclosed that the customer has to pay Rs. 5.85 for a liter of 92 petrol, Rs. 7.50 for a liter of 95 petrol, Rs. 5.88 for LED and Rs. 6.96 for LSD in excess as of the calculations to date (June 19).

The Committee also inquired regarding the commission which was paid in excess for the year 2022 which has been accounted as a sales expenditure when it should have been entered as a receivable. Accordingly, the Committee further inquired about the officials responsible for the recovery of these overpayments and the action taken in this regard.

It was also disclosed at COPE that the officials responsible for the said are no longer in the country.

The Committee on Public Enterprises directed the CAO/AO to submit a comprehensive report within two weeks containing the list of names of those affiliated to committing such financial fraud and to make a complaint to the CID for investigations in parallel with the internal investigations.

News

Fisheries Minister denies Indian media reports on Palk Bay boundary agreement

Published

5 mins ago

June 30, 2024

editor

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda has refuted Indian media reports about any new agreement between Sri Lanka and India regarding the Palk Bay boundary or the Kachchathivu island.

Responding to reports from Indian newspapers, Devananda yesterday told the Sunday Observer that there had been no discussions in the Cabinet about maritime boundaries in the Palk Bay.

Devananda took to task some Indian political parties for revisiting the 1974-1976 India-Sri Lanka Agreement on the Palk Bay boundary during the Indian elections, using the issue of Kachchathivu island to garner votes.

He said that such claims are common during elections, referencing the recent Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.

He said that the boundary agreement was more disadvantageous to Sri Lanka, limiting access to minerals, pearl grounds, and other resources in the Wadge Bank of the Palk Bay boundary.

(sundayobserver.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by sundayobserver.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

BIZ

Travel ban issued against Sena Yaddehige over alleged sexual abuse

Published

1 hour ago

June 30, 2024

editor

The Kollupitiya Police have obtained a travel ban against Sena Yaddehige, Chairman of Richard Pieris Group, in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a female business analyst from the company.

According to police sources, the victim, a 39-year-old resident of Colombo, lodged a complaint last month, claiming she was sexually abused by the Chairman on May 7 at a star-class hotel in Kollupitiya.

The complainant stated that she had been working remotely as a business analyst for the company for at least a month while the Chairman was overseas.

On May 6, she was contacted by the company and informed that the Chairman had returned to Sri Lanka and wanted to meet her on May 7.

During the meeting at the specified location, the woman alleged that the Chairman sexually abused her. She subsequently reported the incident to the Kollupitiya Police, who then informed the Fort Magistrate.

Sources also mentioned that the Chairman left the country on the same day the incident occurred.

Source – dailymirror.lk

News

Range Bandara’s son granted bail

Published

11 hours ago

June 29, 2024

editor

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara’s son Yasodha Range Bandara, who was arrested in connection with a car accident in Karuwalagaswewa area in Puttalam, has been granted bail by the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court.

However, the court has temporarily suspended his driving license.

After being presented to the court, the Acting Puttalam Magistrate has ordered the suspect to be released on a personal bail of Rs. 500,000.

He was arrested by officers following a vehicular accident that occurred early this morning (29).

The incident had occurred at around 4.30 a.m. in the Elephant Pass area near the 7th Mile Post, Mee-Oya, Karuwalagaswewa.

The car driven by Yasodha Range Bandara had reportedly veered off the road and collided with a three-wheeler.

The driver of the three-wheeler had sustained serious injuries in the crash and has been admitted to the Puttalam Base Hospital for treatment.

Karuwalagaswewa Police are conducting further investigations into the accident.

Yasodha Range Bandara had previously been arrested and remanded over a car accident in 2018.

(adaderana.lk)

This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)