In another glaring instance where public money has been wasted due to corruption, the country has lost a massive Rs.983 million as a result of an investment made in a Norwegian company a few years ago for an online lottery, the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed.
The lottery had been introduced during 2002-2004 by a then United National Party (UNP) government minister who later crossed over to the government. A COPE member told the Daily Mirror on condition of anonymity that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Cabinet had however written off this transaction on October 28, 2009 apparently because of the influence wielded by this politician now in government ranks. “If this lottery scheme had been in use, Sri Lanka’s Development Lotteries Board would have been adversely affected,” he said and added that this powerful politician even contested the October 8 local council elections on the government’s ticket. The COPE is planning to present its report to parliament before the November budget. It has unearthed several instances of corruption, wastage, financial irregularities and malpractices running into billions of rupees. (Kelum Bandara)
DM