- FCID to probe
by Nirmala Kannangara
Rupavahini Corporation
Following last week’s expose in The Sunday Leader on how the state run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) had incurred huge losses during the last presidential election for providing advertisements for the Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign, further revelations have now surfaced as to how the corporation funds amounting to several millions of rupees have been allegedly misappropriated by the previous management.
The alleged financial irregularity had taken place in the purchase of a transmitter and a satellite transmission scandal in order to provide wide TV coverage during the presidential election.
The Sunday Leader will continue to expose alleged irregularities related to public funds since it is the right of the public to know how their tax monies are spent.
Former SLRC Director General, Chandrapala Liyanage, former Chairman Wimal Rubasinghe and former Chief Accountant Sanathana Dalugoda have been accused of mismanaging SLRC funds by spending millions of rupees to purchase what are believed to be outdated transmitters and making a payment for a satellite transmission without entering into an agreement.
Reliable SLRC sources on conditions of anonymity said how the former management had allegedly disregarded the government tender procedure and how Rs. 3.4 million was paid to an unknown ‘agent’ to obtain a satellite transmission.
“If the Corporation wanted to obtain a satellite transmission, then tenders had to be called to obtain quotations and on Corporation’s requirements, to choose the best party to get this facility.
A list on names of those whose contracts have been extended
Instead of following this procedure, the former management had hurriedly paid Rs. 3.4 million as part of an advance to an Italian national said to be an agent of this Italian firm without signing an agreement,” sources said.
According to the information received, there are no details on this satellite transmission deal other than the payment documents.
“It was Eng. Kapila Dissanayake and Vijitha Nugaliyadda of the satellite division who went to Italy to discuss with the relevant party to obtain the approval to broadcast certain foreign channels over SLRC. We are yet to find out as to how this Italian company was chosen and who made the recommendations.
What we had to do is only to enter into an agreement with the company and get the rights to telecast certain foreign channels as we have all the required equipment. However it is questionable as to why such a large amount of money was paid to an ‘agent’ as an advance and still did not obtain the rights to telecast the selected foreign channels. To whose pocket did this money go to?” sources asked.
Meanwhile, sources further said how two transmitters were purchased from Italy in a hurry by paying Rs.16.5 million on the recommendation of the former SLRC Director General and Chairman and the payments were made by the former Chief Accountant who was interdicted by the present management pending inquiry.
According to sources, the Corporation had earlier estimated between Rs.12.5million to Rs.20 million to purchase six transmitters in order to provide a wider coverage of the Rupavahini channel. Although the plans were such, Liyanage had allegedly sent two of his ‘henchmen’ to Italy to purchase two outdated transmitters before the last presidential election. Sources alleged that government procurement guidelines had not been followed nor had taken the cabinet approval to make the payments.
“Without calling for tenders the management decided to make the purchase according to their discretion and it is now reported that these two transmitters had been ‘purchased’ from a warehouse. When these transmitters were purchased they were amongst the discarded items in the warehouse and were not usable. But after giving a facelift and certain repairs they were installed at Hunnasgiriya and Gonagala during the latter part of last year to give a wider coverage. But within few months since installation both transmitters started giving troubles, and are now not in working condition sources alleged.
Purchase of transmitters
The sources further noted that the present management has so far failed to find from whom these transmitters were purchased as there aren’t any guarantees given to these two equipment nor has a local agent to talk with.
“Had the government procurement procedures been followed when purchasing these transmitters, we could have got them repaired during the guarantee period, sources claimed.
Meanwhile, it is reported that these illegal transactions have been referred to the Financial Crime Investigation Bureau (FCID) by the SLRC seeking a full investigation as how these payments were made and who were benefitted from purchasing these malfunctioning equipment.
Sources further said how the Programme Presentation Unit during the presidential election period telecast political advertising programmes without charging any fee. “The Corporation gives publicity to daily scheduled programmes free of charge.
During the presidential election period, the former Director General, former Chairman, former Chief Executive Officer Gamini Somachandra Rasaputhra and Somapala Gallage had got these political advertising programmes broadcasted free of charge in the guise of daily schedule programmes.
It was the Head of the Nethra channel who had aired all these political programmes cancelling most of the daily scheduled programmes.
By telecasting these political programmes in the guise of daily scheduled programmes, the loss incurred by the Corporation has been estimated as Rs.24.259 million during the period from December eighth, 2014 to January five, 2015. Meanwhile, allegations have also been levelled against present Director General Prof Sunil Shantha.
According to sources, instead of taking action against those who were responsible in the alleged irregularities during the Rajapaksa regime, Prof. Sunil Shantha is accused of colluding with members of the former regime and had given them a free hand to control key sections in the institution to which the employees have expressed their annoyance in fear of losing further revenue to the Corporation. According to sources, unless the irregularities that are still taking place are stopped and quick action is taken against those who were responsible for the losses incurred during the previous regime, the situation would further deteriorate at the SLRC leaving the employees in turmoil.
“When we asked the DG as to why he allows these corrupt officials to further ‘ruin’ the institution, he has no answer but allows them to run the institution,” sources alleged.
Order disregarded
It is also reported as to how the Director General has disregarded an order given by the Minister of Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilake to terminate the services of all contract employees as there is an excess carder at SLRC which has become a burden to the institution.
“As the Media Minister wants to streamline the institution, the Director General (DG) was instructed to follow his orders.
But however on the request of the ‘big wigs’ of Rajapaksa supporters, our DG has extended the contracts of their people including the contract of a relative of former Managing Director, Chandrapala Liyanage.
Other than the UPFA supporters all other contracts are now in the process of terminating,” sources claimed.
Sources meanwhile allege that the Director Administration who is one of the Rajapaksa supporters who had got all these contracts renewed despite of the Minister’s request through the help of Prof. Sunil Shantha.
“From the time the new Director General took office in January this year, he became very close to all departmental heads and those who are in the managerial level. All these high posts are held by Rajapaksa supporters and they do not want to see the removal of their party supporters who are on contract basis. Because of the close rapport they have with the DG, all contracts of UPFA supporters were duly renewed by the Director General disregarding Ministry directives,” sources added.
The reasons given by the Director General for giving extensions to those who are on contract is that their service is essential to carry out the daily work. However, sources have objected to this explanation.
Meanwhile Director General SLRC, Prof. Sunil Shantha told The Sunday Leader that he had to extend certain contracts on the request of the respective divisional heads.
“I do not have any authority to discontinue the contracts when the Departmental Heads want to keep certain employees to function the respective departments. Even in my office the peon and the typist are on contract.
How can I discontinue their services? If so who is going to do my office work?” the Director General queried. However he said that no one at SLRC can be tagged by their party affiliations to a political party and said that under a national government, all employees should be treated equally.
“I did not come here to do politics,” the Director General said. SLRC Chairman, Ravi Jayawardena was not available for comment.