"High level probe into contract of specially - designed brooches for CHOGM first ladies"
Director General of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority Authority Janaka Udaya Kumara wrote to the Business Times with reference to last week’s story under the above headline. He said:
“An experimental suggestion to gift a 12" X 18" self-portrait made of Sri Lankan Gemstones as a souvenir to each visiting CHOGM spouse was originally recorded at a preliminary organising committee meeting held in March 2013.
The aforementioned ‘work of art’ is not only rare but is only manufactured by two individuals due to the high level of skill and craftsmanship demanded by the specialised job. Both manufacturers are registered suppliers of the NGJA. However, the expression of interest for the supply of the above item was invited from only Mr. Manoj Dilshan, Managing Director, Photogem, Kuliyapitiya. The other supplier Mr. Athurupana of Kandy was blacklisted due to a previous contractual default.
The quotation submitted by Photogem amounted to Rs. 1,000 per square inch of finished art which surmounted to a staggering sum of Rs. 216,000 per ‘Photo-Gemmed’ portrait.
Despite many overtures made to the supplier on the advice of the CHOGM secretariat for possible price reconsideration, the project was abandoned due its high cost as well as manufacturer renegotiation refusal. The organising committee then examined the possibility of gifting a brooch as an alternative, instead of the expensive ‘Gemmed Self Portrait’ to the participants. The decision to gift a brooch symbolising the National flower "Blue Lotus" (Nil Manel) was consequent- ly mooted and agreed upon by the membership.
The ‘Blue Lotus Brooch’ crafted of Amethyst and Citrene with a market value exceeding Rs. 50,000 at a cost of Rs. 16,000 per unit was selected and approved by the membership. The regular evaluation of best suppliers registered at the Authority was duly conducted consequent to the approval and authorisation to proceed.
It is very likely that the brooch will be supplied to the Authority by the selected manufacturer at the best possible price based on the excellent industrial affiliation and camaraderie bilaterally maintained between both institutions.
There was no decision nor even to a lesser extent any suggestion taken at any level or time to gift the supposed brooch at a cost of Rs. 250,000 per unit, as alleged in the article.
No ‘ high level probe’ as mentioned has been initiated at any point or time by a regulatory body or an authority of the Government into this activity concerning the gift to be given away to the visiting CHOGM spouses.
Our reporter notes: The high level probe was on the selection process of the bidder who quoted a high price like Rs. 216,000 to make the gift, the” Photo Gemmed “portrait of visiting CHOGM spouses. We had however erred in referring to a brooch with portraits of spouses of heads of governments.
We are reliably informed that the deal was rejected by the CHOGM secretariat on the directions of the coordinating committee headed by a powerful Ministry secretary appointed by the president.