LANKALIBRARY FORUM

Rs. 20m scam in Air Force

By Roy Denish
31OCT1999 / @ Sunday Leader

Air Force Commander Air Marshall Jayalath Weerakkody has appointed a three-member committee to probe a massive dry ration scam which has cost the government over Rs.20 million. The scam came to light when the air force logistics department in Colombo was tipped off that some officers stationed at Mankulam air base were allegedly generating about Rs. 50,000 a day, by forcing a contractor assigned to supply dry rations to submit bogus invoices. Soon after Mankulam area fell into the hands of the government forces during Operation Jaya Sikurui, 3,000 airmen were posted to this camp. The contract to supply rations to the airmen was handed over to a civilian contractor. It is alleged that the contractor was told by some officers of the camp to invoice the air force for 3,500 ration packs, while the base was actually supplied with only 3,000 packs. The money for the over invoiced 500 packs had allegedly been collected by the officers directly from the contractor. "I have appointed a three member committee to probe into the matter" Air Marshall Jayalath Weerakkody told The Sunday Leader.