SB Justifies Rs.35 Million Spent by Basil on GI pipes to Erect banners and flags During Election

Social Empowerment and Welfare Minister, S.B. Dissanayaka yesterday justified purchase of  GI pipes valued at Rs 35 million by Basil . This money was taken from the Divineguma funds.  All purchased GI pipes had been  distributed among  158 Pradeshiya Sabhas to erect banners and flags in support of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election bid.

The minister said his perusal of the ministry files had found that the bill for GI pipes had been settled by the Economic Development Ministry and the purchase had been done adhering to proper procedure like calling for open tenders. “The pipes have been distributed among Pradeshiya Sabhas and I don’t see any corruption involved. Besides, those pipes are of use to Pradeshiya Sabhas for various needs,” he added

When questioned by a journalist,  whether it was correct to supply GI pipes by the government to local government bodies to be used for election propaganda,  the minister said he did not see anything wrong because LG bodies which received GI pipes were under the SLFP.

What else you can expect from a politician?