Lanka Phosphate heats up after State Minister exposes corruption

Industries State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake visited the Sri Lanka State Phosphate Company in Eppawala for an inspection, a heated situation arose when a group of employees tried to expose the fraud and corruption of the company.

An attempt by one of its employees to attack an executive officer yesterday (17) in the presence of the minister was thwarted by the intervention of the Police.

The employees pointed out that the company has incurred a big loss by importing a sparepart (a gear box) of the type of grinding machine that the company does not need.

They pointed out to Minister that since the related sparepart is unusable, no arrangements have been made to exchange it.

The Minister then ordered the officer who placed the order to be brought before him.

The supply officer had told the Minister after it was brought from the mother company officials found it different to the existing one, and the serial number was different. He said he cannot take responsibility for this.

Lanka Phosphate Chairman Sandhya Ambanwala told the Minister that the full amount has been paid to the relevant Chinese company and despite request they had not taken it back.

Then the Minister had asked to sack the relevant officer. But the concerned officer had told the Minister that the decision to import was taken by the Tender Board.

The supply officer who faced the relevant incident has filed a complaint at the Eppawala police station that he was assaulted by an employee in the presence of the Minister.