MONEY WASTAGE AT CHUNNAKAM POWER PLANT OPENING

Because of change of Minister Chunnakam power plant incurs a loss amounting to a sum of Lacks of Rupees

During the President’s visit to Jaffna the new power plant named “Uthuru Janani” was christened. It happened the day before yesterday. For the power to be given to the private section the government had to incur a huge expenditure amounting to Rs 1350 million which have been saved. This is a good and there is no doubt about it. However the wastage is for the amount spent in its opening ceremony.
At the time in last April when the Minister in charge of Power and energy Champika Ranawaka with the assistance of the local Engineers had spent a sum of Rs 3500 million and were able to complete within a period of nine months. It is very fortunate in having completed this project successfully.
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As everyone is aware there was cabinet reshuffle and as a result the Power and energy portfolio Ministry was handed over to Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi. Hence the opening ceremony was organised in a mighty hurry under her instructions. The organisers of the ceremony had to face various embarrassments. They had already published a souvenir which contained all details of the Former Minister Champika Ranawaka together other Engineers who deserved praise for the efforts.

This ceremony was to be held on the 3rd of this month. Owing to the change of Ministers it had been postponed by one week. Hence the Chief Guest apart from the President the pride of place was given to the new Minister occupying the chair.
As a result the organisers were forced to change the souvenir and the plague that was to be erected amongst other changes which had cost an enormous loss according to the statistics of the finance division of the CEB who had revealed to the media.

To change the invitation cards in connection with the postponement of the ceremony it had cost a sum of Rs 45,000/-  It is not at all appropriate to replace the name of the former Minister who did all the spade work and insert the name of the new Minister who had taken over the work only a few days back and the subordinates who had done this to get marks, internal sources had revealed.