Auditor General's Dept. to keep close tab on flood relief mechanism

Following a spate of complaints that relief given to the flood-affected was not reaching the victims, the Auditor General's Department is keeping a close tab on the relief distribution mechanism by government officials, Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe told the Sunday Observer.

He said complaints regarding lapses in flood relief distribution in the Kaduwela and Kolonnawa areas have been flooding in. Teams from the Auditor General's Department have been sent to these areas to investigate these complaints.Wijesinghe said inquiries will be completed this week and a report regarding those responsible, will be submitted shortly.

The Auditor General's Department has been given powers under the new Audit Act to take action for not utilising resources to provide assistance to the flood victims.

"We have received number of complaints about officials blocking relief to the people and also about the officials not visiting the flood affected victims,, he said.

"We have received a number of complaints about officials blocking relief from reaching the victims.

There was a complaint that officials were not visiting flood-affected areas. We are inquiring into these complains too," he added.

(RW)