Complaint Filed Over Alleged Deyata Kirula Corruption Claims

COLOMBO (News1st): The Citizen Power Organization filed a formal complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, alleging serious fraud and corruption linked to the Deyata Kirula exhibitions held in 2012 and 2013.

The complaint was filed in connection with the Deyata Kirula exhibitions held at Oyamaduwa, Anuradhapura in 2012 and at the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute in Ampara in 2013.

Speaking to the media, Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, Chairman of the Citizen's Power Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste said that between 2012 and 2013, fraudulent transactions worth nearly Rs. 700 million were carried out under the project and The payment records show disbursements of around Rs. 700 million. 

He said approximately Rs. 2.5 million per square foot was spent on constructing a temporary paddy storage facility, when the dollar rate stood at Rs. 130. According to Kamantha Thushara, as a result, enclosing the storage space with walls alone cost Rs. 2,500 per square foot a figure that would be nearly Rs. 6,000 per square foot today.

He further commented saying that The Deyata Kirula exhibition ran for only five days, and highlighted that the costs were exceptionally high.

Kamantha Thushara said that Rs. 24.5 million was spent for entrance arch designs, Rs. 50–60 million was spent for temporary toilets and similar amounts were spent for solid waste management. Rs. 2,413,600 was spent for commemorative plaques, and millions more for landscaping commemorative gardens and display pathways. He added that Over Rs. 10 million was spent on plaques alone.

Thushara said that all this pointed to a network of individuals allegedly involved, including Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and several former high-ranking officials.

He further said that public funds were misappropriated under the banner of the Deyata Kirula project and exhibition, and that officials who resisted were suppressed.