Harsha pushes for probe on RDA’s Rs. 58 bn

If one borrows some funds to construct a house he or she cannot utilize these funds to purchase a vehicle

“If one borrows some funds to construct a house he or she cannot utilize these funds to purchase a vehicle, likewise if the RDAborrowed funds to construct a certain road those funds should be used to construct that road alone and not any other road,” he said.

Dr. De Silva also said the NSB had informed the Finance Ministry Secretary and the Prime Minister that the Rs. 58 billion had not been used for the said road development projects.

Responding to a question raised by journalists as to whether the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) would be called in carry out an investigation, Dr De Silva said action would have to be taken if there had been a serious financial fraud.

Action should be taken against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa if it is proven that Rs. 58 billion belonging to the Road Development Authority (RDA) had been misused, Policy Planning Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva said yesterday.

Dr. De Silva said the RDA had borrowed Rs 58 billion from the National Savings Bank (NSB) for several road development projects but the funds had not been spent for these projects. He said the former President himself had said these funds were used for different projects of the RDA. However he said this was a violation of financial procedures. He said if a state institution or any private individual borrowed funds for a specific purpose these funds should be utilized for that purpose.