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The United National Party (UNP) today said the corruption within the government was to such an extent that some ministers who could not bear it had started leaking documents dealing with corrupt deals to the UNP so that they could bring it to the attention of the public.
“There are still some cabinet ministers who are against the corruption within the government. They want to act against it but they can’t. That is why they are supplying cabinet papers dealing with corruption to us seeking our help,” UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera told a news conference.
He said the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) which constructed the Norochcholai power plant had again been granted permission by a cabinet paper to carry out a water project in Attanagalla, Gampaha.
“The Norochchoai power plant is a failure and the CMEC has no ample experience in water related projects. The CMEC estimated cost for the project is USD 229.5 million. A reputed and a well experienced company could carry out the project for only USD 150 million,” he alleged, adding some individuals would take at least a commission of USD 75 million from the project.
He said altogether some USD 3.5 billion were lost to the country due to the corrupt projects initiated by the government during the last 7 years.
A special unit established by the UNP to look into the corruption of the government had revealed this information. (Lahiru Pothmulla)