Yet another swindling by Kiriella

Oct 25, 2017

An order has been given that insurance coverage for institutional purposes of government and semi-government institutions should be obtained by calling for bids from state-owned institutions. The Finance Ministry notes that this is to ensure transparency, risk management and capital efficiency. Therefore, bids should be entertained from state-owned insurance coverage providers who are registered in the Sri Lanka Insurance Board, as per a circular to all government and semi-government institutions.

When this is the common procedure, that should be followed, without challenging it, because that does not cause injustice to anyone or cause any fraud. If a person or an institution opposes, that is due to pure stupidity, or craftiness. Going by how things are done in the country, it is craftiness, not stupidity.

That craftiness has come into play when obtaining insurance coverage for highways and expressways. The Finance Ministry file no. PN/Funds/04/152 dated 14.07.2015 clearly states how insurance coverage should be obtained for state institutions. The Higher Education and Highways Ministry has completely disregarded it and is using its political power which it believes to be unshakable. That has been done when obtaining the insurance coverage for the Kadawatha-Kerawalapitiya third phase of the outer circular expressway. The Finance State Ministry has received a complaint that the insurance coverage has been obtained from a private firm, not Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation or any other state insurance institution. Former subject minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena says in writing that state insurance institutions should be given priority as per government orders. He recalls how the insurance cover obtained on 05.03.2010 from a private institution for the southern phase of the outer circular expressway was cancelled and given to SLIC. He has informed the UDA’s director general not to violate the treasury circular and to grant this insurance cover to a state insurance institution.

The ministry has obtained the insurance cover from Continental Insurance, whose managing director Chaminda de Silva is also a consultant to the subject minister Lakshman Kiriella. There lies the question. 

It is not surprising that engulfed in his political powers, Kiriella is obtaining the insurance cover from the firm owned by his consultant. In the end, he will not miss his share. This is nothing new to our politics. That is how patriotic, populist politics work. This confirms our great grandfathers’ saying that becoming an MP will be enough to amass wealth for generations to come.

What cannot be withstood most is their daylight swindling while disparaging their political enemies and boasting about a so-called good governance.

Ashika Brahmana