CWE former DGM barred from leaving country

Former Deputy General Manager of the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) Asiri Fernando was yesterday barred from leaving the country by Colombo Fort Magistrate in view of an alleged fraud that is said to have been incurred in a loss of Rs. 39 million to the CWE.

The police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) had begun investigations into the incident following a complaint received by AntiCorruption Secretariat.

According to the complaint, the former Sport Ministry Secretary Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi had made a written request from the CWE chairman that arrangements be made to import a stock of high quality sporting goods wanted for the Sports Ministry through the CWE.

The complainant further stated that the Sports Ministry defaulted a payment of Rs. 39 million owed to the CWE in importing the sporting goods including 14,000 carrom and chess boards.

The FCID further informed Court that the CWE had not followed the proper tender procedure in importing the concerned sporting goods. Police further stated that former Deputy General Manager (Finance) Asiri Fernando had also tendered his resignation letter and left the CWE without giving a real reason soon after an internal investigation over the matter was launched. Police further alleged that the investigations conducted so far revealed that the former Deputy General Manager (Finance) had directly involved in this transaction and sought an order to prevent him from leaving the country.

Accordingly Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage issued an order on the Controller of the Immigration and Emigration to prevent the former General Manager of CWE from leaving the country.

The police FCID had begun investigations into the incident following a complaint received by AntiCorruption Secretariat