Irregularity at ICTA revealed in Parliament

Colombo (News 1st): An irregularity at the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) was revealed in parliament today (March 19). JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake noted that an issue has been raised regarding the ICTA being paid millions in 2016 to prepare a program for the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO). He noted that a program has not yet been provided. Responding to this Non-Cabinet Minister of Science, Technology & Research Sujeewa Senasinghe noted that he has called on a meeting and as to his knowledge the said company has paid salaries of about Rs 400 million. He went onto note that it was a senior lawyer at the AG's department who notified him on the failure to create the program. He added that they have arranged a meeting with Minister Ajith P. Perera on the matter. Non-Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure & Information Technology Ajith P. Perera noted that NIPO had given Rs. 31 million to ICTA to network their system and ICTA had used the money for another purpose. He noted that he hopes to pay a personal visit to the National Intellectual Property Office and check their system. Ajith P. Perera noted that digitizing the National Intellectual Property Office is important and that he will discuss on creating a platform to receive the money back and solve this issue. The Chief Executive Officer of ICTA during the period in which this questionable transaction had taken place was Muhunthan Canagey. News 1st exposed a number of transactions connected to the CEO including the preparation of the National Payment Platform. The allegations are now being proven just as the allegations on the Bond Scam were proven with time. Though the President took the necessary steps to remove Canagey from ICTA, no proper investigation had taken place over the allegations made against him.

For your attention!