Project director of new Kelaniya bridge summoned before the PCoI

Colombo (News 1st): The project director of the new Kelaniya bridge Darshika Anojini Samarakoon was summoned before the presidential commission investigating into acts of fraud and corruption at state institutions. She was summoned for the investigations conducted into the illegal recruitments done at the Road Development Authority when Minister Lakshman Kiriella was the Minister in charge of Highways. The Project Director of the New Kalani bridge said that 5 people recruited by the Road Development Authority as public relations officers were assigned to her project. During her testimony, she revealed that a Thero was also among these officers. 4 other individuals were recruited as public relations officers subsequently. The project director said that these officers did not report to work for the project and were later absorbed to the Minister's office staff. However, these officials were paid an allowance of Rs 25,000 from the funds allocated for the New Kelani Bridge project. These officials were paid this allowance for a period of 1 year. However, the Director of the project said that the JAICA institution that is funding the project has not yet reimbursed this amount paid as allowances. Senior officials of the road development authority had previously testified before the presidential commission on the illegal recruitment of employees to the project. During these testimonies, it was revealed that the recruitments were carried out based on the orders of Minister Lakshman Kiriella and his daughter and they were in violation of the institutions' circulars.