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Last Updated : 2024-05-27 13:10:00
8 July 2023 07:02 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lankan government finds itself in a precarious position, unable to recoup a staggering $6.9 million paid as compensation to a Chinese company over the controversial purchase of a stock bio-fertilizer because the Sri Lankan authorities failed to keep the letters of credit and the performance bond related to the transaction valid without expiration during the time of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, the Auditor General observes.
The Auditor General, in his report, says there is a dereliction of duty on the part of the Agriculture Ministry, the State Ministry of Agriculture, Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd and Ceylon Fertilizer Ltd.
Sri Lanka purchased a shipment of organic fertilizer from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Ltd in 2021 in the midst of a crisis in the agriculture sector triggered by the ban imposed by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government on chemical farming. However, the government declined to accept the stock citing that samples of the stock were found to be contaminated with harmful bacteria. The company disputed the allegation, and the matter led to a commercial dispute between China and Sri Lanka. The government paid US $ 6. 9 million (Rs. 1,382 million).
The present government is in the process of making fresh initiatives to recover the loss. However, the Auditor General said the letters of credit and the performance bond related to the transaction had expired by March 2022.
Asked for a comment on the matter, Agriculture Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe said Sri Lanka will make diplomatic engagements through the Foreign Affairs Ministry to recover the loss.
“We asked about items to be purchased from this Chinese company for the US $ 6.9 million we paid. They cited only organic fertilizer. We have restrictions on the use of organic fertilizer in terms of the plant quarantine law of the country. Now, we try diplomatic means to address this issue by recovering the loss,” he said.
Besides, he said a committee headed by a judge would be appointed to probe the alleged dereliction of duty by the Sri Lankan authorities in the purchase of the controversial stock of organic fertilizer. (Kelum Bandara)
Arnold Saturday, 08 July 2023 07:42 AM
How come no one is punished for this massive blunder?
Rukmal S Saturday, 08 July 2023 09:33 AM
The grandiose dreams of one moronic man has plunged this country to a nightmarish situation from which it may never recover .Whether he will he ever be punished for his misdeeds is the million dollar question.
Bandu Saturday, 08 July 2023 10:07 AM
So the usual ruse - a committee headed by a judge WOULD BE appointed to probe the alleged dereliction of duty. This is after three years. Another two years for the Report. By that time no one will remember that Ministers name or the officials. And they lived happily ever after !
Neel zero Saturday, 08 July 2023 11:34 AM
Yes then after 03 years they will appointee another committee. That is the usual game. Go erment knows how hundle the that " GAWA SAMPATHA"
Tissa Fernando Saturday, 08 July 2023 05:36 PM
Mahindananda was the mastermind of this operation at that time.
Sambo Saturday, 08 July 2023 07:12 PM
You think our ministers could think that far. If so we would have been a better country by now.
Big fuss about perfectly good fertilizer Saturday, 08 July 2023 09:03 PM
The company sent the good fertilizer, bug the local troublemakers complained with spurious and deceitful allegations. GoSL and it's officials are in general deceitful with even until a month before defaulting on debts claiming all was well, and all bonds would be paid through in the year. Instead of further wasting time, and money on legal action, better GoSL take it in the butt and learn the lesson for acting in such bad faith.
Nandasena Hora Sunday, 09 July 2023 05:15 AM
I am sure that part of the compensation money went to the Rajapakse Retirement Fund.
Victor Sunday, 09 July 2023 08:26 AM
To be precise there in no government. An unelected reject is running the country - what do you expect.
DOT Sunday, 09 July 2023 11:03 AM
Whom to be blamed? Relevant ministers ? I am tiered.
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