Sugathadasa Stadium Director under probe
 

By Lal Gunesekera

The Director of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA), Cmdr H. U. Silva (rtd), is on the mat, for allegedly violating tender procedure in the purchase of electronic items for the complex.

Investigations by the Presidential Investigative Unit (PIU) revealed that the loss to the government may be a massive Rs. 3,096,917.33 plus VAT as a result of this irregularity on the part of Cmdr Silva, official sources revealed.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Wirithamulla, has advised the Chairman of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA), Gamini Netticumara, to initiate disciplinary action against the SNSCA Director, Cmdr H. U. Silva (rtd), for alleged tender irregularities in the purchase of Electronic Timing System for the Sugathadasa Stadium Complex.

In a letter dated May 8, to the Chairman of the SNSCA, Gamini Netticumara, the Secretary to the Ministry, S. Wirithamulla, has directed to appoint a suitable Inquiring Officer to conduct a fact finding preliminary inquiry against Cmdr Silva to ascertain whether there is a prima-facie case against him to issue a charge sheet.

Wirithamulla also in his letter stated that the Inquiry Officer should collect all relevant facts and evidence by recording statements from relevant persons with documentary evidence if the allegations against Cmdr Silva is bona-fide.

The Ministry Secretary Wirithamulla, has also requested the Inquiry Officer to contact the Director-General of the Presidential Investigative Unit (PIU) to obtain further information on the issue. Following complaints received on the procedures adopted with regard to the award of the tender to supply an electronic timing system for the swimming pool and an electronic scoreboard to the main arena of the Sugathadasa Stadium Complex, Wirithamulla, had called for tender documents. He had examined them and had sought legal opinions.

Wirithamulla in his letter to Netticumara had stated that the PIU too had examined the tender process and made several recommendations. The Director-General of the PIU in his letter to Wirithamulla had noted: "It is evident to any prudent person that the tender procedure lacks transparency and a lot of underhand manipulations have been done in order to award this tender to Walters Stam Company (Pvt) Limited.

In my opinion, the Director, Cmdr H. U. Silva, is solely responsible in this corrupt practice and recommend he should be dealt with for, all the controventions of the Government Tender Procedure and attempting to course of loss of Rs. 3,096,917.33 plus VAT to the government."