28 BOI Executives paid Rs. 8 Mn as allowance; COPE calls for inquiry

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) has recommended that an internal investigation be carried out with regard to the disputes surrounding the salaries and benefit payments conducted by the Board of Investment. "Board Directors are not authorized to make any payments that are not mentioned in the government circulars," COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath emphasized. According to COPE findings, the Board of Investment as per the approval of the Board Directors had paid a sum of Rs. 08 million to 28 employees as a Drivers Allowance, which is not permitted in any other state institutions. "If a state sector employee who is allocated an official vehicle is granted either an allowance of Rs. 50,000 or a fuel allowance, another allowance is not provided for driving that vehicle to work," Prof. Charitha Herath noted. However, the Board of Investment had provided a drivers' allowance, a fuel allowance, and also paid another amount for the executive who drives the vehicle to work, he noted. "The Former Director-General of the BoI had recruited a consultant with the approval of the Board of Directors from May 2020 to April 2021 and paid a sum of Rs. 13.37 million to provide an official vehicle, a salary, fuel allowances, and a driver's allowance," COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath pointed out. According to Prof. Herath, two Director-Generals had received payments at the Board of Investment, so far this year.