The Governor of Western PC blocks the purchase of Rs. 600,000 chairs

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Governor of the Western Province, today blocked the moves by the Western Provincial Council to purchase chairs costing over Rs. 600,000. Governor of the Western Province, Hemakumara Nanayakkara at a press conference  today (September 13) stated that the actual price for the chairs excluding tax is Rs. 614,000 and that since the amount of tax has not been disclosed another 200,000 will have to be added to that amount. The Governor also added that a sample chair had already been brought down to Sri Lanka and Sunil Wijeratne had been asked to provide his opinion on it but it was not a sample of the original Spanish chair that had been proposed. Nanayakkara also questioned the motive behind ordering 150 chairs when the real requirement was only 104. He added that he had been informed that the excess seats were meant for those who would be elected in future. "There are plenty of things that have to be done in the Western Province on public funds. I will today inform the necessary committees that when procurement of things like chairs arises due attention should be given to the socio-economic situation of the country" added the Governor. The Governor appointed a Commission to look into why these chairs were ordered in the face of allegations. These facts were revealed after the report was presented to the Governor. However, the Governor also criticized the committee that was appointed to look into the issue. The final recommendation of the committee headed by Sirisoma Lokuvithana goes on to say that while the Technical committee have drawn the right conclusions, they have provided recommendations on that basis.  The committee goes onto say that there is no procurement issue in the matter and by telling so they could fall into serious trouble on the basis that they have provided wrong information to the Governor.