Kandy MC wastes millions of rupees on water pump: CSO alleges

• The ratepayers are calling for a ‘Presidential Commission’ to inquire on to the Kandy Municipal Council on its activities within the last ten years to iron out the massive frauds that had taken place within the Council

A massive alleged fraud has been unearthed by the Organisation for the Protection of Public Property in the purchase of a water pump for the Kandy Municipal Council Water Department costing into million rupees.

According to the Secretary of the Organisation, Anura Gonawela who had been a member of the Council multiple times, says that the water pump for which a tender has been accepted and approved by the Council is manufactured in Vietnam, though the bid has been approved for 113 million rupees to a Chinese company.

At the commencement of the tender, there were three applications - one by a reputable company which has been in this country for over decades and their tender was for 39 million rupees for the same specified capacity  water pump. This tender, it is alleged that was not processed at the normal Tender Board, as it was alleged to have not been signed and stamped by the company.

But it is alleged that another tender for 113 million for the same type and capacity was placed before the tender Board and was accepted for 113 million rupees as the winning tender.

A retired mechanical and electrical engineer from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has been recruited for the municipal water department at the daily payment of fifteen thousand rupees or 250,000 rupees per month for six months. This appointment has been approved by the Council at its meeting held in 2025.

The Secretary of the Organisation Anura Gonawela says that they have been able to collect the tender document of the reputable company whose tender had not been placed before the Tender Board, which has been franked and signed by the directors of the company. This tender, of which the offer is only 39 million rupees for the same specified capacity and specifications, has not been placed before the Board, while the accepted tender was for 113 million rupees.  

This anomaly has been brought to the attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the CID and the Procurement Commission.

A parallel was drawn by the Secretary, that even in the previous Council another massive fraud in the Water Works Department of the Council is still pending running into 90 million rupees. The charge sheets of this fraud was delayed and his salary was withheld, but due to various manipulations his salary was restored using the ‘school tie’ but the inquiry is still pending. The irony is that his salary was restored by the PSC , it is alleged.

The Kandy Municipal Council has ‘new’ members and it is alleged by the taxpayers that they are mislead by a set of public officers, with ulterior motives. 

The ratepayers are calling for a ‘Presidential Commission’ to inquire on to the Kandy Municipal Council on its activities within the last ten years to iron out the massive frauds that had taken place within the Council, even to the extent of allowing municipal land been given to private individuals without Council approval.

When the Daily Mirror spoke to the Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenaike on the tender of the water pump that has been now tendered, he said that the tender procedure was in order and that the tender was awarded last year. 

The Commissioner of the Council when contacted by the Daily Mirror said that the pump has not arrived in Sri Lanka as it is manufactured for the specifications. But the tender has been awarded.