Former Divineguma Department Manager Somachandra Dharmasiri testifying before the Colombo High Court yesterday said that the printing of Divineguma Govi Litha (Almanac) for the year 2015 has been done under the legal process following the Government’s procurement process.
He testified in the case filed against Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Divineguma Director Kithsiri Ranawaka alleging that government funds were misused by printing the Divineguma almanac.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte. Deputy Solicitor General Sudharshana de Silva appearing on behalf of the Attorney General led the testimonies.
Responding to questions posed by Deputy Solicitor General Sudharshana de Silva, former Divineguma Manager Dharmasiri said that a letter was sent to him for the printing of Divineguma almanac 2015. The letter was sent by Administrator Director Kaluarachchi.
He then sent the letter to the Chief Accountant with the permission of the Director General. It was referred to the Technical Committee as it had to be adapted to the procurement process. The lowest bid was for Rs. 5.25 per almanac and then it was referred to a printing company with the lowest bid. 5 million almanacs had been approved for printing on four occasions. Vouchers were paid for those almanacs.
Meanwhile, Samurdhi Development Department, Deputy Director (Planning) Mahesh Perera testified that the funds required for the printing of Divineguma almanac were obtained from the funds allocated in the Budget 2013 for the institutions belonging to the Divineguma Development Department and since the printing of almanac was a recurring activity, recurrent expenditure was incurred for it.
Both Government officials who testified in the case further stated that the almanac printing was done with the approval of the relevant authorities. Defence attorneys informed the Court that they would not cross-examine the witnesses. The case will be taken up again on January 19.
The Attorney General had filed indictments against Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director General of the Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly printing five million almanacs with the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a cost of Rs. 29.4 million of funds belonging to the Divi Neguma Department, to be used as election propaganda material during the January 2015 Presidential Election.
The Attorney General alleged that by printing these almanacs between November 23 and December 31, 2014, these accused had attempted to influence citizens of this country to vote for Presidential Candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The AG maintained that the act of the accused deems him guilty of the offence of bribery in accordance with Section 79 of the Presidential Election Act No. 15 of 1981.
Furthermore, the two accused have been charged with misappropriation under the Public Property Act No. 12 of 1982. The AG had listed 32 people including Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya as witnesses in the case.
