Committee to investigate corruption in transport sector

A committee has been appointed to investigate allegations of corruption said to have taken place in the public transport sector, the Government said in a statement.

The special investigations committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Internal Transport on the instructions given by the subject Minister for investigating and making recommendations on corruption, maladministration and irregularities occurred in the Ministry of Internal Transport and its affiliated institutions within the last five years.

Cabinet has approved a proposal made by the Minister of Internal Transport Ranjith Maddumabandara to obtain instructions from the Attorney General’s Department for taking legal actions against relevant institutions and responsible persons revealed by the said investigation committee and to take necessary action to prevent such activities in the future.

The committee will investigate the non recovery of Rs. 142 million for providing SLTB buses for publicity campaign in the 2015 Presidential Elections, non receipt of the discount in purchasing 2200 buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board on supplier’s credit, poor quality and losing of import duty concessions by the Sri Lanka Transport Board in purchasing of spare parts, operation of private buses under the SLTB logo, operation of 20 luxury buses, which were imported for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, by the Road Development Authority, enormous cost and issues regarding the estimates of the constructions of Northern Railway Line, estimated high costs for the construction of Matara – Kataragama Railway Line, vesting and leasing out of Railway lands to external institutions in vague procedures, operation of carriages and special trains with private sector participation, financial losses which occurred due to the operation of Viceroy – 2 special train and the sale of scrap iron in violation of acceptable procedures. (Colombo Gazette)