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Software for online bidding of coconut auctions, inactive!

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The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has disclosed several administrative concerns and irregularities in the Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Cultivation Board and Coconut Research Institute during a meeting held on July 06.

During the meeting, it has been revealed that although a computer software has been prepared for online bidding for the coconut auction, the software is currently inactive. 

It was revealed that this system will enable the auction to be conducted in a more transparent manner and this system was introduced with the aim of preventing the monopoly of a few people in the coconut auction in Sri Lanka.

It was also discussed that some officials of the authority expressed their reluctance to implement this online digital system with the cooperation of several brokers. Thus, instructions were given to restore this online system to conduct this auction with more transparency t within three months.

Advance of Rs.1 mn given sans contract

It was also revealed that a contract of nearly Rs.5 million was awarded to a private firm in 2021 without a contract to construct a digital outdoor billboard in front of the Narahenpita head office of the Coconut Development Authority. 

The Director Finance stated that an amount of rupees one million has been given as an advance and the payment was made under certain influence. 

Accordingly, the Secretary to the Ministry was instructed to conduct a comprehensive investigation in this matter within two weeks and reveal those responsible. Apart from this, it was also decided to conduct a separate investigation carried out by the Auditor General.

6 failing to properly appear for interviews, recruited

It was also revealed that 6 people who did not properly appear for interviews of the Coconut Cultivation Board were recruited by the former chairman at will. 

Expressing strong displeasure over this, the Committee informed to give a formal report within two weeks. 

It was also decided to inform the President’s Secretary to take further action in this regard.

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Samurdhi Dept. told to conduct survey to identify poverty-stricken families

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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis has instructed the Department of Samurdhi Development to conduct a quick survey to identify other poverty-stricken families who need to be empowered.

This was taken into discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis met in Parliament on Sep. 19 chaired by MP Gamini Waleboda Member of Parliament.

Commenting further, the Member of Parliament stated to the officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development to appoint a Committee together with the Ministry of Finance, the Welfare Benefits Board and the Department of Census and Statistics to take the necessary measures.

The discussion was held with the aim of reviewing the goals of the Department of Samurdhi Development to reduce the impact of the economic crisis and the current plans to achieve those goals in the year 2024.

The officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development, who presented the facts, mentioned that at present there are more than sixteen hundred thousand Samurdhi beneficiary families. Accordingly, the department has planned to empower forty-one hundred thousand families in the two years from 2024 to 2026.

The Chair reminded the officials that the responsibility of empowering all families who are affected by the economic crisis and those who are not is entrusted to the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee also ordered the Department of Samurdhi Development to immediately prepare a plan to eradicate poverty within the next five years.

The Leader of the Opposition – Sajith Premadasa, addressing the Committee, pointed out the dire need to first establish technical definitions to identify poverty.

The Committee also discussed about the proposed number of new employees in the department, which has been presented in relation to the future plans of the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee Chair pointed out that the sacrifices made by the officers of the Department of Samurdhi Development Department during the Covid pandemic cannot be forgotten. The Chair instructed the officials of the Management Services Department to take into consideration the work done by them in the past while approving the proposed number of new employees. Accordingly, the Committee ordered the Management Services Department to come to a final decision about the proposed staff of the Samurdhi Development Department within two weeks and to approve it.

The Committee also discussed the people who have not yet received their pension due to the retired officials of the Samurdhi Development Department and the related reasons. The Chair asked the officials of the Department of Pensions to arrange for the payment of the basic pension to the employees who have not yet received their pension.

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Inland Revenue Act to be amended

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017, the Government Information Department said.

It has been proposed that it is appropriate to amend the Inland Revenue tax to enable to request tax relief by any charity establishment that provides health facilities to children with disabilities in the society joined hands with government health services / education system and that is established as a legitimate institution prioritizing the well–being of the differently-abled children in society while being established as a legitimate institution or registered under any law enforced for registering social services organizations. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the resolution prepared by the acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to direct the Legal Draftsman to draft a Bill to amend the Inland Revenue Act including legal provisions.

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National Debt Management Institute to be established

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The Cabinet has granted approval to establish a National Debt Management Institute.

It has been emphasized in the supplementary Budget of 2022 the importance of the establishment of a State Loan Management Institute as an institutional reformation while enhancing loan management and transparency has been recognized as a prioritized sector even under the appropriation loan facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Government said that technical assistance has been rendered by the IMF and the World Bank in order to establish the proposed state loan management institute.

The loan management reformation plan, loan management institutional framework and legal framework have been planned by now.

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the resolution tabled by the acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to direct the Legal Draftsman to draft the Bill of the State Loan Management Act.

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