News

Sri Lanka overpaid Indian fertiliser company in 2021: Audit report

Published

1 year ago

January 21, 2024

editor

The previous government paid more than double the market price to import nano nitrogen liquid fertiliser from an Indian fertiliser company that was selected through an unsolicited proposal, and received only seven percent of the total order placement despite settling the amount in full, an audit report has revealed.

The National Audit Office report found that, during the 2021 Maha season, the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Corporative Limited (IFFCO) was selected to supply the fertiliser through its local agent United Farmers Trust (UFT) based on two unsolicited proposals it had submitted.

The company is yet to pay Rs 48 million as total outstanding for the failure to supply the agreed fertiliser consignment.

Due to Sri Lanka’s foreign currency shortage at that time, the Indian company proposed to supply fertiliser on a credit basis.

Even though agreements had been entered into on November 22, 2021 for the import of 4,250,000 bottles (2,125,000 litres) at USD12.45 a bottle containing 500ml of liquid fertiliser, only 306,454 bottles of fertiliser had been imported in four instances. The Government had to incur a cost of Rs711,863,096, the audit report said.

In his recommendations, Auditor General W P C Wickramaratne said that steps should be taken to recover the over payment of Rs49,846,406 for the first stock (100,224 bottles) either from the relevant company or the parties that had approved payments without proper evaluation due to “failure of responsible parties such as Ministry of Agriculture, Procurement Committee, and Technical Evaluation Committee in specifically identifying the substantial price payable for a bottle of liquid nano fertiliser.”

The urgent import of liquid fertiliser from India commenced in September in the wake of the previous government’s disastrous policy of organic farming by banning chemical fertilisers, pesticides and weedicides in the country in April 2021.

In the following month (May), thee then Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to import organic fertiliser from a Chinese company – Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd – which was turned away by Sri Lankan authorities when it reached the Colombo Port without a valid Quarantine Certificate.

The audit inquiry also noted that even though the price of a 500ml bottle of nano liquid fertiliser had been mentioned at INR240 – equivalent to USD3.185 – on the Indian manufacturing company’s website, they were imported to Sri Lanka at USD5 per bottle according to Cusdecs (Customs declaration).

“However, it was not confirmed during the audit that the importation could be carried out at the price indicated on the website. It had been revealed at a meeting held on November 10, 2021 that the price of a liquid fertiliser 500ml bottle was USD5.25 (FCA). Despite having such knowledge, 100,224 bottles of nano nitrogen liquid fertiliser had been purchased at USD12.45 each and 206,232 bottles had been purchased at USD10 each without making purchases at a low price,” the report indicated.

The audit inquiry also observed that the Agriculture Ministry had not taken steps to sign an agreement with the supplier at a price beneficial to the government, and the supplier, his agent and the manufacturer had gained a profit exceeding a fair profit margin.

Ahead of the import, no experiment had been carried out in a laboratory or model farm before the release of this fertiliser to cultivation lands. Fertiliser had been imported without proper evaluation of the requirement of nano liquid fertiliser, the inquiry observed.

The inquiry noted that the fertiliser was given under different names to farmers without ascertaining the contents, which was questionable, and that proper attention had not been paid to the qualifications of the relevant supplier.

(sundaytimes.lk)

News

First capacity-building program under NCGG – SLIDA MoU concludes successfully

Published

2 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Centre for Good Governance of India (NCGG) and Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) was signed during the State Visit of President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka to India in December 2024 for training and capacity building of 1500 Sri Lankan civil service officers over a period of five years.

The first program under the MoU was successfully held at NCGG from 21 April to 02 May 2025, and was attended by 41 officers. Based on the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the theme of the program was ‘digitization in governance’. The program featured a series of sessions focused on key areas such as digital service delivery, digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion through digital payments, and innovations in public grievance redressal systems. Senior officials and domain experts delivered presentations on flagship Indian initiatives in the digital domain, including Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, e-Office, GeM, Aadhaar, PM Gati Shakti, among others.

At an interaction session with participants in the inaugural program organized on 08 May 2025 at SLIDA, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha underscored that capacity building is an important pillar of the development cooperation between the two countries, with Sri Lanka being among the largest recipients of scholarships and capacity building initiatives offered by India. He highlighted that, demonstrating India’s continued commitment to enhancing capacity-building opportunities for Sri Lankans, Prime Minister of India had announced additional training avenues to 700 Sri Lankan citizens annually during his recent State visit. In that context, the High Commissioner said that the participants in the first NCGG-SLIDA programme also represented the first set of Sri Lankan nationals to receive training as part of the significantly enhanced capacity-building endeavour of India that will now benefit 1000 Sri Lankans annually.

The interaction session was also attended by Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Mr S. Aloka Bandara; Director General of SLIDA, Mr A.V. Janadara; senior officials and faculty members of SLIDA; among others.

In view of the highly positive feedback from the participants in the inaugural NCGG-SLIDA program, based on request from SLIDA, a second program on the same theme under the MoU is now being planned for another batch of around 40 officers for early June 2025.

News

Bell 212 helicopter crash : Death toll rises to 06 (Update)

Published

2 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

Another Special Forces (SF) soldier who was onboard the SLAF Bell 212 helicopter that crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir this morning (May 09) has succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital.

This brings the death toll from the fatal accident to six.

Six other armed forces personnel, who sustained injuries in the incident, are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

(Previous news 2025 May 09 – 11.31.a.m.)

5 dead in Bell 212 crash

Five military personnel have been confirmed dead in the crash of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Bell 212 helicopter into the Maduru Oya Reservoir earlier this morning (May 09.
According to the SLAF Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage, the deceased include three members of the Sri Lanka Army’s Special Forces and two Air Force personnel.

The aircraft was carrying a total of 12 individuals, including six Army Special Forces members, two Air Force Regiment Special Forces personnel, two other Air Force members, and two pilots.

(Video : Accident 1st)

මාදුරුඔය පීරා බෙල් 212 සොයන මෙහෙයුම… #Accident1st #bell212 #Helicopter #crashe #MaduruOya
Posted by Accident 1st on Thursday, May 8, 2025

(Previous news 2025 May 09 – 9.57.a.m.)

SLAF helicopter crashes into Maduru Oya during training session

A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has reportedly crashed today (May 09) into the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

The incident occurred during a training exercise held as part of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces passing-out ceremony in Maduru Oya.

The aircraft was carrying ten Special Forces soldiers and two pilots at the time of the incident.

News

LG Polls: EC sets deadline to submit campaign finance reports

Published

2 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

The Election Commission has instructed all candidates who contested the 2925 Local Government (LG) Elections to submit their campaign income and expenditure reports on or before May 28.

A statement by the Commission emphasized that candidates are required to prepare and submit their financial disclosures in line with the provisions of the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 03 of 2023. These reports must be handed over to the Returning Officers of the respective electoral districts.

Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that this process is part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process.