FCID Ordered Investigation 14 million Spent on Printing Diaries by Weerawansa Minitry

04/06/2015 

Additional Magistrate of Colombo, Nishantha Peiris, yesterday (3) ordered the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to conduct an extensive investigation into the financial irregularity of more than Rs. 14 million which has been spent on printing of diaries and calendars for the year 2015, by the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities during the administration era of the former Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

This order was issued by the additional Magistrate, when the Chairman of the Ocean View Development Company Limited, which is operative under the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Poorna Chandana Silva made a complaint to Court.

The Police informed Court that the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities had printed diaries and calendars by obtaining a sum of more than Rs. 14 million from the institutions mentioned below which are affiliated to the Ministry:

1. National Housing Development Authority
2. State Engineering Corporation
3. Autonomy Management Authority
4. Urban Habitat Development Authority
5. State Development and Design Corporation
6. Construction and Training Development Institution
7. National Physical Planning Department
8. Buildings Department
9. State Factory

Money had been paid through these institutions to Himashi Publishers of Nugegoda. Police informed Court that the complaint had been lodged requesting an investigation be launched into the improper use of finances.
The Additional Magistrate ordered the FCID that the progress of the investigation related to this incident be reported to Court on September 13.

BY Ishara Rathnakara

Ceylon Today