Cricket board millions not accounted for

By M. Ismeth

A government-appointed committee of accountants who probed the recent audit reports on the crisis-ridden cricket board has recommended that future accounts in this multi-million rupee sports body be handled directly by the Auditor General.

The four-member committee headed by Employees Trust Fund Chairman G. Jinadasa said no proper inventory control system had been in operation for the January 1 to June 30 period last year — the controversial period during which the then cricket board president Thilange Sumathipala was removed by a court order and replaced by an interim committee headed by banker Rienzie Wijetilleke.

The committee said the manner in which two suspense accounts to the tune of more than 6 million rupees had been maintained was clear evidence of the lack of proper financial control.

Suspense account included unidentified bank debits and credits.

The committee found that these debits were relating to direct payments by the Union Bank of the which the Accounts Division was unaware. This again showed lack of co-ordination and financial discipline, the committee said.

Referring to the controversial deal with World Tel, the committee said millions of dollars were not properly accounted for and an inquiry should be reactivated to resolve the matter without further delay.

The committee legal expenses of upto 3 million rupees had been paid to a law firm for a case against the election of officials in 1998. Board minutes and relevant documents were not made available to confirm the authority given for this payment.

In addition, about 600,000 rupees had been paid for two other cases. The committee had found that no Executive committee approval was available to take over these cases by the BCCSL and to make payments out of BCCSL funds. Supporting documents were not available for these payments other than the invoices of the lawyers.

The Chief Executive Officer had explained that decisions were taken to incur these legal expenses out of funds of the BCCSL. But he was unable to produce relevant documents.

The committee as well as the auditors could not get the minutes of the executive committee meetings held in March 1999. The CEO had said minutes should be with the former secretary but he was unable to obtain them.

In other findings, the committee states that an advance payment of about Rs 2.3 million was made to E &A Motors for work connected with the Galle international stadium without obtaining a bank guarantee covering the advance. A further Rs 2.5 million had been made for the Galle parameter drainage system without a bank guarantee.

The committee found tender procedures had not been followed to award contracts while proper procurement procedure has not been followed for purchases.

It found that even a contract register was not maintained while copies of contracts were not made available to the accounts division.

In certain cases commitments had been made without agreements. A proper financial control could not be done in the absence of these documents. Overall, the financial discipline of the BCCSL was poor.

The committee said the BCCSL was maintaining 10 bank accounts and two Cricket Fund Accounts in different currencies. It suggested the number of bank accounts be minimised for effective management of funds.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr. Sumathipala have written to the committee saying it could not conclude a fair and just report without affording the opportunity to Mr. Sumathipala to explain his case. They warned that he would otherwise take legal action.

The committee included Finance Ministry Chief Accountant N. Warusawitharana, Finance Ministry Deputy Director D. Abeysuriya and Sports Ministry Chief Accountant A.V.H.Gunasekera.

The committee's report has been submitted by the Sports Ministry to the Attorney General for necessary action.

Sumathipala plays straight bat

By Leonard Ratnayake

Former Cricket Board president Thilanga Sumathipala and the executive committee members yesterday met a committee of inquiry to clarify matters regarding questions raised by auditors.

Committee chairman G. Jinadasa said last night they had a friendly discussion while a source in the executive committee said their interview was a big success and the questions had been answered.

Chief Executive Officer Dhammika Ranatunga and 18 members of the executive committee were present at yesterday's inquiry at the Sports Ministry.

Three other members of the committee and four executives of the audit firm Someswaran Jayewickreme were also present at the inquiry.

Mr. Jinadasa said every matter was taken up item by item and a report would be given to the Sports Ministry this week.

The Sunday Times learns that among the alleged irregularities taken up yesterday were the absence of inventories, the suspense account and the World Tel agreement.

Mr. Sumathipala had questioned the need for a physical verification of inventories before June 30, claiming it was normally done by the end of the year.

Baby farmer meets his nemesis

By Nilika de Silva

Just a few weeks old, and up for sale. This was the fate of a baby girl who was put up for sale allegedly by its father. Fortunately unlike several of its siblings, this baby didn't finally make it over the counter.

The baby is presently in the Nagoda Hospital, and its father is whiling away the time at the Welikada Remand Prison, until the case is heard on April 4.

Sissie Nona, the grandmother of the baby lives at Kandakotuwa Road, Manamulla in Panadura. Her son, Lal Gunasekera, has been living in a hut a short distance away from her house.

Only two of Lal Gunasekera and his lover G. N. Nandawathie's children are living with their grandmother at Kandakotuwa Road. But people in the area spoke of several other babies who were sold.

Each time they sold a child,the woman would be decked out in gold chains and jewellery, alleged D.P.K. Kuruppu, a resident of the area.

The modest house at Kandakotuwa Road, surrounded by a large garden appeared to be that of a woman trying to make the best of her life with the children and grand children in her home.

The hut several hundreds metres away burnt and naked except for a roof spoke a different story. A story of losses.

Lal who was a confirmed alcoholic would beat the woman up quite often, the neighbours said.

Then she would run away and hide in a neighbour's house. But soon they would be back together again.

The last time they fought was because Lal had brought another woman home.

It was this which led Nanda to set fire to their home, the neighbours said. Recently Nanda was speaking about wanting to do up the house again to bring Lal back, said another resident.

On the day that Lal had attempted to sell the baby, the Kalutara South police had been alerted to what was going to take place. Noticing the odd behaviour of this man, walking around with a tiny infant in his hands, the Police mobile had been called and the police jeep had picked up the man and the baby.

The baby which was born at Nagoda Hospital is now back at the hospital and in the care of the doctors and nurses there, while its mother Nandawathie is back with her family in Matugama.

Coral crime amidst the raids

By Tania Fernando

When you take a walk along the beach down south, you can see corals on the beach. The coral mining on the coast seems to be continuing even though the Coast Conservation Department is trying to curb the mining by carrying out raids.

Hikkaduwa famous for its corals is facing a problem. The glass bottomed boat rides, a money spinner in that area, damage the corals and make it easier for the coral miners who carry on with the activity even though most are aware of its harmful effects.

The coral mining also causes sea erosion and brings about long term damage to the coast. The corals are mainly used in lime kilns and as ornaments.

Meanwhile raids are being conducted monthly to restrict coral miners destroying the sea and inland corals, which also cause sea erosion.

Manager Coast Conservation Department (CCD) R. A. D. B. Samaranayake said boats and land were given to those engaged in coral mining as an alternative livelihood but most of them always go back to mining.

Sea corals is what is based below the water but above the sand while inland corals are below the sand. 300 kilometres towards the sea from the shore comes under the jurisdiction of the CCD.

Due to the many raids which are being conducted by the CCD with the assistance of the Police of the area and the coast guards, lime kilns have been relocated inland. Since this is beyond the jurisdiction of the CCD, it is not possible for them to close down the lime kilns.

"We hope to reduce the mining through regular raids, but we are facing a lack of manpower," Mr. Samaranayake said.

The CCD is also conducting awareness programmes for non-governmental organisations, people of the area and in schools down south," he said.

Businessmen learn eco-friendly ways

By Laila Nasry

In an attempt to introduce the environment standard to the Sri Lankan business community, the ISO 14001 Environment Management Systems (EMS) Users' Association organised a two-day workshop titled "ISO14001 for leaders and managers".

The workshop conducted by Dr. Leslie Wildesen, President of Environment Training Consulting International , discussed the benefits and shortfalls of ISO 14001 enabling the members to make an initial assessment of the system.

Through the discussion the members collectively agreed on the benefits that can be derived through its implementation. Among the benefits highlighted were the protection of the environment, conservation of resources, cost cutting methods, reduction of waste and the enhancement of community relations.

Today, the ISO 14001 system is emerging as an additional requirement for trade and commerce enabling companies to become globally competitive and gain access to new markets. Being the stamp of environmental conservation, ISO 14001 will be an added benefit for any industry creating an image as a good corporate citizen.

The workshop further explored the process of implementing ISO 14001 to Sri Lanka. "It would be easier if the companies have ISO 9001 (the quality standard) but you don't necessarily need to have it to implement ISO 14001," said Dr. Wildesen.

Presently ISO 14001 has been implemented in 7500 companies the world over. "ISO 14001 is really an investment for your company," stressed Dr. Wildesen, who went on to say that though there is an initial certifying fee, the benefits derived from this standard far out weighs it. With the completion of the workshop Dr. Wildesen has further undertaken two pilot projects in the hotel industry, at Ranweli Holiday Village and The Habarana Lodge.

Writer awarded damages for copyright infringement

By Ayesha R. Rafiq

Penguin Books of India (Pvt) Ltd. has agreed to pay well-known writer Anne Ranasinghe Rs. 25,000 for violating her copyright of a short story.

Ms. Ranasinghe filed action in the District Court of Colombo suing Penguin for Rs. 500,000 for violating her copyright of a short story 'Desire'.

Ms. Ranasinghe had earlier agreed with D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke, Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya to include her short story 'Desire' for which she owned the copyright, in a book known as the Penguin Book of Sri Lankan Short Stories.

She submitted that Penguin however had granted permission to a 'The Week' Magazine to reproduce the story 'Desire' authored by Mrs. Ranasinghe and that Penguin had held out that it has the copyright to the story. 'The Week' had subsequently published the story, based on the representations of Penguin.

The defendant company had earlier in writing acknowledged that it had violated the plaintiff's rights, and had apologised to Mrs. Ranasinghe for doing so. It had also acknowledged that it had wrongfully granted permission to 'The Week' for the publication of the story.

Romesh de Silva, PC, with Hiran de Alwis instructed by Prasanna Goonewardene appeared for the plaintiff.

The matter was heard by District Judge Kanthi Wanigasekera. Ms. Ranasinghe submitted that she had suffered loss and damage estimated at Rs. 500,000. The matter was settled with Penguin agreeing to pay Ms. Ranasinghe Rs. 25,000.

It acknowledged that no payment had been made to Mrs. Ranasinghe for publishing the story and promised not to publish the story in future without the written consent of the plaintiff.

UN group asks Prabha to sign peace manifesto

By Nilika de Silva

The first three copies of the Manifesto 2000 for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence has been sent for signing to the President, the Opposition Leader and most significantly — the LTTE leader.

Drafted by a group of Nobel Peace Prize winners at the Eiffel Tower the Manifesto 2000 for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence was launched for signing in Sri Lanka this week.

"In Sri Lanka we expect to collect about one million signatures, and around the world this figure should be about one hundred million," said the President of the Sri Lanka UN Friendship Organisation, Bro. Baptist Croos. He said the signatures would be stored in a special computer for the next century so that the people could see.

The Manifesto has already been sent for signature to President Kumaratunga, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Dr. Deshapriya S. Wijetunge, Director General of organisation said the copy to the LTTE leader had been sent to the LTTE leader through the ICRC and the Internet.

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