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The Sri Lanka Port Authority was referred to as earlier than the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on Sep. 09, 2023 Chaired by Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Member of Parliament.
The Auditor Basic’s report for the 12 months 2021 and the present efficiency have been examined and the Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Naval and Aviation Companies Mr. Okay. D. S. Ruwanchandra, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Mr. Keith D. Bernard and a gaggle of officers have been summoned earlier than this Committee. Furthermore, on June twenty second, 2022, when the Sri Lanka Port Authority was summoned earlier than COPE, the progress of implementing the suggestions was additionally examined.
Consideration was drawn to the next factors.
Proposal to COPE inside 3 months
The COPE Chair Prof. Ranjith Bandara beneficial that 3 proposals pertaining to income enhancement, value administration and effectivity enhancement of Sri Lanka Ports Authority be submitted to COPE. The Chair beneficial that the Port Authority can be summoned earlier than COPE on the eighth of December. The three proposals needs to be submitted to the COPE the Chair additional stated.
Non-payment of cash to be credited to the Consolidated Fund from 2016 – 2021
The monetary outcomes of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority up to now few years have been taken into dialogue. The Committee questioned the officers current concerning the non-payment of 4.975 million rupees of the revenue earned by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority from the 12 months 2016 to the 12 months 2021 which was to be credited to the Consolidated Fund.
Report on buy of cranes
Contract entered into for buy of 12 oversize cranes and 40 automated gantry cranes to maximise operational capability at East Terminal
COPE questioned the officers concerning not making amendments to the contract of the USD 282.56 million reached with the contractor to buy 12 massive cranes and 40 automated gantry cranes to maximise the operational capability of the jap terminal. The Members of Parliament current identified that this was additionally mentioned when the Sri Lanka Port Authority was summoned earlier than COPE on June twenty second, 2022.
The officers current talked about that contracts have been reached on the stated within the 12 months 2021 and regardless of the issuance of Letter of Credit score (LC) by the Financial institution of Ceylon, these funds couldn’t be made because of the prevailing scenario within the nation. The COPE Chair talked about that because of the non-amendment of this contract, authorized points could come up sooner or later. Additionally, operational value has been spent for this. Consequently, COPE beneficial to provide a report on this stated inside a month.
Discount in container dealing with capability
COPE identified that based on the reviews of the Auditor Basic, it’s noticed that the container dealing with capability of Sri Lanka Port Authority of the Colombo Port has decreased from 81% to twenty-eight% by 2022.
Moreover, the Members of the Committee current identified that the western terminal has been working to extend the earnings by way of the actions of personal traders. Consequently, COPE identified that the power to compete with the non-public sector needs to be even be created.
The Committee was additionally questioned concerning the preparation of the excellent plan for the subsequent 5 years. In response to this, the officers identified that fifty% of the excellent plans ready for the subsequent 5 years have been accomplished. The officers additional agreed to current this plan to the Committee when the Authority known as earlier than COPE once more.
Lower within the arrival of naval vessels on the ports of Colombo, Galle and Trinco
COPE additionally drew consideration to the lower within the arrival of naval vessels on the ports of Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee from the 12 months 2018 to the 12 months 2022.
COPE additionally questioned the non-arrival of even a single ship on the port of Kankasanthura from the 12 months 2020.
The officers identified that although there was a lower within the 12 months 2022, it’s getting higher now. The officers talked about that the ports apart from the Colombo port have been used to import uncooked supplies akin to cement and the explanation for this was the lower within the import of those uncooked supplies through the previous interval.
Thus, the Committee instructed to concentrate on additional activation of the present ports on the provincial stage.
Suspension of plans to construct multi-purpose terminal at Galle port
There was additionally a dialogue in regards to the plan to construct a multi-purpose terminal on the Galle port and the truth that the venture needed to be suspended because of the 3-year delay in acquiring approval from UNESCO.
On March twenty eighth, 2006, the Authorities of Sri Lanka and the Japan Financial institution for Worldwide Cooperation had signed a mortgage settlement on this regard and it was mandatory to acquire the approval of the UNESCO group to hold out the development in reference to the Galle Fort, which was designated as a world heritage.
On condition that this approval was not obtained for 3 years, it has been determined to droop this venture. However the Committee identified that the advisor charge of 418 million rupees spent for this objective is noticed as a web expense.
The officers identified that because of the precedence being given to the event of Hambantota port, the precedence on Galle port was diminished.
Nonetheless, the officers talked about that this cash just isn’t an idle expenditure as they hope to develop the Galle port as a vacationer port sooner or later. The officers additionally talked about that the Sri Lanka Port Authority has not been affiliated on the stated matter.
Cost of OT regardless of extra staff
It was revealed that there are 914 extra staff within the Port Authority.
Given the context, COPE identified that time beyond regulation allowances have been given to the workers. COPE additionally identified that it’s noticed that cash has been given as time beyond regulation allowances within the 12 months 2021 as effectively.
Accordingly, COPE additionally instructed the Division of Administration Companies to concentrate to the surplus variety of staff and take mandatory motion. The Committee instructed to resolve the difficulty associated to the variety of staff when being summoned again earlier than the Committee.
Failure to put in CCTV, protecting all gates and bonded Warehouse of SLPA
An inquiry was made concerning the non-installation of CCTV cameras protecting all of the gates and bonded Warehouse of the Sri Lanka Port Authority.
The officers current stated that CCTV cameras can be regularly put in for the locations mandatory. The officers identified that 538 cameras have been put in up to now and about 400 can be put in sooner or later.
The officers current stated that they are going to set up these CCTV cameras inside 6 months.
Night time Navigation system at Trinco port not performing at its most
COPE additionally inquired in regards to the Night time Navigation system at Trincomalee port not performing at its most.
Rs. 1.2 billion for meals bills in 2022
It was disclosed that 1.2 billion rupees have been spent on meals for the 12 months 2022. Accordingly, the Auditor Basic talked about that 498 million rupees have been spent on snacks.
It was additionally determined to re-summon the Sri Lanka Port Authority on December eighth, 2023 to overview the progress of those suggestions.
State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Members of Parliament – Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Eran Wickramaratne, S. M. Marikkar, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Madhura Withanage and Prof. Charitha Herath have been current on the Committee assembly held.
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