Cabinet approval sought for payment of Rs.6,484 Mn

Goods and services obtained for former presidents

The cabinet on Tuesday has postponed approval to pay for goods and services valued at a massive Rs. 6,484 million to 259 state and private establishments and Sri Lanka Customs for supplying goods and services to three President’s Houses and Presidential Secretariats in Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya during a ten year period prior to 2015.

The cabinet memo forwarded by President Maithripala Sirisena requested the cabinet to finalize and resolve all contractual obligations and pay Rs. 3,631 million after deducting commissions and discounts to state and private establishments.

The cabinet memo also requests to approve an additional Treasury payment of over Rs. 187.5 million to Lanka Oryx Leasing as the first installment of its loan as agreed upon and over Rs. 112 million to World

Air Pvt. Ltd before September 30, 2019 to finalize the loan payment of that company. The Treasury is to be instructed to pay Rs. 2,070 million to Sri Lanka Customs and approve another Rs. 1,262 million from Budget 2020 for payments to remaining state and private establishments.

Commenting on the cabinet paper, senior cabinet minister on condition of anonymity said a major portion of these expenses have been used for the supply of foods and beverages, furniture and other household items.

“It is a bit peculiar to witness that the incumbent President has to foot the bill of goods and services obtained by the former Presidents over the years,” he added.