The purchase of a stock of inferior water filters by the North Central Provincial Council by totally ignoring the accepted procurement procedures and audit warnings, have caused a loss of Rs 135 million to the government.
This was revealed by Audit Superintendent Samaratunga Herath, giving evidence before the Presidential Commission of Investigating Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption, Abuse of Power and State Resources on January 4.
Giving evidence led by Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara, Audit Superintendent Samaratunga said the matter had been reported to the Parliamentary Finance Committee by the Auditor General. He said the North Central Provincial Council had purchased a stock of inferior and unusable stocks of 12,500 water filters from Jinasena Ltd in 2010, 2011 and 1012.
The purchase had been made ignoring audit warnings that they were unfit for use.
These water filters did not benefit any kidney patients as they did not facilitate proper filtration of water. He said some filters had been distributed among people who did not need them, while nearly 50 filters had been left over in ware houses without being distributed.
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