Once the service agreement is signed, the Managing Director has to submit her educational qualifications and service certificates which she has mentioned in her bio-data, and it is alleged that this official has submitted fraudulent qualifications in order to obtain the post. It was Minister of Tourism John Amaratunga who appointed Ruwini Dias Bandaranayake as SLTPB Managing Director in February bypassing the Scheme of Recruitment (SoR) solely on the request of a fellow minister in the government.

As a result of her failure to sign the service agreement despite repetitive requests made by the Board of Directors of the SLTPB to do so, the Finance Department has now been instructed to stop paying her salary from this month, reliable SLTPB officials who wished to remain anonymous told The Sunday Leader.

According to the sources, after the establishment of the SLTPB, highly qualified Managing Directors (MDs) were recruited to manage the administrative and financial affairs of the bureau. “Our former MDs, Dileep Mudadeniya, and Malraj Kiriella, handled the administrative and financial affairs of the bureau efficiently and even advised the Board of Directors on policy matters. Thereafter, Rumi Jaufer, a political appointee, who did not have any qualification to hold this high post, took over the job and carried out many malpractices. The Financial Criminal Investigation Division (FCID) is now holding an inquiry into these malpractices. During Jaufer’s tenure, affairs at the SLTPB came to a standstill and its funds were swindled; we wanted the management to recruit a qualified person for the vacant MD’s post,” the sources added.

On the employees’ request, applications were called in through a newspaper advertisement, Five applications were received including that of Bandaranayake.

“Of the five, two applicants were shortlisted and amongst the rejected was Bandaranayake as well. However, all five applicants were interviewed and Bandaranayake was selected on the request of Minister Ranatunga sidelining the qualified applicants,” the sources alleged.

Bandaranayake, the sources said, has stated in his application that she has an LLB (University of London).

“To our knowledge she is not a lawyer. As her bio data document states, she may have followed an LLB course from the University of London, but it is alleged that she has not obtained the degree. It is up to Bandaranayake to clarify the issue to the bureau. However, when candidates for such important positions are selected, it is up to the higher officials of the bureau to check their qualifications and certificates. Politicians may come and go, but drastic decisions that unqualified officials that politicians appointed make will irrevocably damage the profile of the country as an ideal tourist destination, then the purpose of establishing the Tourism Promotion Bureau is not served,” the sources claimed.

Meanwhile, sources from Airport and Aviation Services Limited of Sri Lanka where Bandaranayake had worked as an Executive Director from February to October 2015 told The Sunday Leader that she was brought in by the then subject Minister, Arjuna Ranatunga.
“While being at Airport and Aviation Services Limited, she attempted to show that it was she who initiated the Phase II of the second terminal at the Bandaranayake International Airport. She was only boasting. She was not involved in any of its development work,” the sources added.

Bandaranayake is further accused of influencing the SLTPB Finance Division to reimburse her the money that she has paid Mt. Lavinia Hotel for serving milk rice and tea on the day that she took over the office. According to Mt. Lavinia Hotel bill No: 10622, dated February 12, 2016, she had paid Rs. 65,000 for a special snack menu for 50 persons at a rate of 1,200 per each and the transport charge of Rs. 5,000.

“She gave this special treat on February 15 and had instructed the Finance Division to pay her the money,” the sources claimed.

When this newspaper contacted Ruwini Dias Bandaranayake and asked her why she delays signing her contract agreement and whether it is because she has to submit her educational qualifications and service letters of the posts she was holding earlier, Bandaranayake said that she had been appointed by Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, and the SLTPB Board of Directors accepted her qualification and service letters.

“What is the contract agreement you are referring to. I was given a letter of appointment. I don’t know about any contract agreement,” Bandaranayake said.

When she was told that it is alleged that she does not hold the qualifications she has mentioned in her bio-data, and it may be the reason that she delays signing the contract, Bandaranayake said she has to speak to the Secretary to Tourism Ministry and the SLTPB Chairman before making any further comment.

When contacted Secretary Tourism Ministry Janaka Sugathadasa to find out whether the SLTPB Managing Director can continue in office without signing the contract agreement, Sugathadasa said he is not aware of it and he has to check it with the SLTPB Chairman.

“Every appointee has to sign a contract agreement, but in this regard I cannot make any comment as I do not know anything about it. Please talk to the Chairman,” Sugathadasa said.

SLTPB Chairman Paddy Withana when contacted confirmed that Bandaranayake has so far failed to sign the contract agreement. He, however, said he is not aware that she will not be paid her salary from this month.

“That is news to me. All what I know is the MD has so far failed to sign the contract agreement,” Withanage claimed.

(Nirmala Kannangara - thesundayleader.lk)