Fisheries Minister Felix Perera is himself doing big fishing business and owes Rs. 4.8 million to the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) for purchase of fish.
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| Fisheries Minister Felix Perera |
Besides being the minister, he is also a supplier of fish to a number of outlets and the Sri Lanka Army through a company in which he has interests.
“I owe that money. I am willing to settle the amount by tomorrow,” Mr. Perera told The Sunday Times.
However, The Sunday Times learns that the fish had been bought under different names.
Lack of funds has already placed the CFC in a quandary. The corporation is unable to deposit an outstanding sum of Rs. 30 million to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). In addition there is an overdue bank draft of Rs. 70 million.
The total outstanding payments for other supplies are around Rs. 7 million.
CFC employees have taken to the streets, demanding that the authorities finalise the EPF payments before the end of the year.
Mr. Perera said he had submitted a cabinet paper to obtain Rs. 20 million to pay the EPF and was awaiting approval before the end of the year.
Employees have pointed out that mismanagement had resulted in severe losses to the CFC.
They said unfavourable agreements between the corporation and various organizations were one of the reasons for the losses of the corporation. | 
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