LETHARGY AND CHAOS AT WPC
Work at all sections proceeds at snail’s pace
In December the Provincial Health and Education Ministry spent close to Rs. 1,000 million to purchase equipment When allocated funds are spent on such things it is harder to close accounts at the end of the financial year. There would be at least Rs. 1,500 million remaining by December Many of the Provincial Councillors from the ruling party do not come for meetings or complete any of the work they have been given. They have made visiting funerals and other functions their main duty,”
The Western Provincial Council (WPC) had utilized just 21 percent of the funds allocated to it by October 2016, a massive decrease in the utilization of funds when compared to previous years, Provincial Councillor Meryl Perera said.
Speaking at the Council meeting, Perera revealed that much of the funds allocated by the government had been left unutilized during 2016. Previous reviews of the utilization of allocated funds found that the WPC found it had utilized 74 percent in 2014 and 85 percent in 2015 October.
Utilization of funds by the WPC had dropped down to 21 percent by October 31 last year and then sky rocketed to 74 percent by December 2016. Therefore, of the Rs. 5,370 millionallocated by the government to the five provincial ministries and secretariat offices, Rs. 502 million remained in December 31.
Perera said the sudden increase in the use of funds between October and December was connected to the purchase of machinery instead of development projects.
“In December the Provincial Health and Education Ministry spent close to Rs. 1,000 million to purchase equipment. When allocated funds are spent on such things it is harder to close accounts at the end of the financial year. There would be at least Rs. 1,500 million remaining by December,” Perera said.
The Chief Minister had directed that allocated funds be used during the first half of the year, but officials had not even started development projects, even though two months of the year were coming to an end.
“Many of the Provincial Councillors from the ruling party do not come for meetings or complete any of the work they have been given.
They have made visiting funerals and other functions their main duty,” Perera complained.
Meanwhile, Western Provincial Health Minister Sumith Lal Mendis who was also at the meeting said that many of the Provincial Councillors did not attend meetings or work. Action would be taken against these individuals if they did not pull up their socks.