The Island:
Tells Dr. PB Technical Committees deceive Cabinet
SLFP General Secretary Minister Maitripala Sirisena says some technical committees, responsible for choosing various products and services for the Health Ministry, are utterly corrupt. Health Minister Sirisena alleges that some members of the committees are liaising with certain suppliers at the expense of the State medical sector.
Minister Sirisena was addressing a group of officials at the National Blood Centre on Thursday (9) in the wake of allegations regarding brazen violations and manipulation of tender procedures.
An irate Sirisena said he had identified several attempts to manipulate tender procedures, since he took over the ministry 14 months ago. The Polonnaruwa District MP alleged that some of those appointed to technical committees were involved in shady deals. He told a surprised audience that he had forwarded reports prepared by certain technical committees to the Attorney General’s Department, for further action.
The veteran politician went on to say that he also discussed the issue with Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundera.
The former Agriculture Minister said that he couldn’t accept decisions taken by the Cabinet Appointed Tender Board (CATB) based on biased recommendations by technical committees. He said that he felt ashamed and disappointed after seeing what was going on in the establishment.
The Health Minister alleged that some of those appointed to technical committees didn’t even attend meetings, while some remained silent at discussions, leaving one or two persons to run the show, thereby making it easier for the technical committee and certain suppliers to engage in corrupt transactions. According to the Minister, the Health Ministry was one of the major recipients of public funds, therefore it was plagued by waste, corruption and irregularities.
Red faced officials looked on as the Minister warned that he wouldn’t hesitate to consult the AG’s Department regarding corrupt practices. An irate minister said that in spite of having a number of good surgical, medical and laboratory items at reasonable prices, technical committees were only interested in dealing with those looking after their interests.
Ministry sources said that the situation was the same at almost all the ministries for want of scrutiny by parliamentary watchdogs, Committee on Public Enterprises and Public Accounts Committee and the failure on the part of the internal audit mechanism. Sources said that periodic recommendations made by the Auditor General’s Department were ignored.