SJB seeks CID probe into Indian fertilizer payment

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balavegaya on Monday (25) filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department calling for an investigation over the payments made to a private firm when importing liquid fertilizer from India.

JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath in an explosive revelation to Parliament recently, said that Sri Lanka had deposited $ 1.275 Mn to an account of a private company as payment for the recently imported Nano-Nitrogen Fertilizer from India.

“Funds belonging to the People’s Bank were transferred to a private company account. This is not a small amount, but $ 1.275 Mn. That is more than Rs. 290 Mn. in local currency,” he said on Friday (22), alleging that “Only a fraction of the total payment was made."

SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman alleged that the account of the private company was opened by two people living in Colombo 07, and this company did not even meet the necessary requirements to be suitable for such fund transfer.

"No tender process was followed when importing the fertilizer. If an emergency procurement is to be made, it requires cabinet approval," stressed the MP.