In a special letter addressed to the President the union said funds of the ministry were being misused, lack of discipline in financial and administrative procedures and the subject minister’s inability to rectify discrepancies pointed out by the Audit report.

The Union further pointed out that the Central Cultural Fund clerk has to go to the minister’s house in order to obtain the signature of the cook for the payment of salary of Rs. 50,000.

Although the Central Cultural Fund has no provision for the post of a Working Director’s post, the minister has appointed a person to such a post privileged to salary and all other benefits, contrary to the Cultural fund policies, the union further stated.

Illegal recruitments :

The union further pointed out that upon the recommendation of the working director, a 63 year old person has been appointed to the post of Financial Director, when such a person cannot be recruited to state service as a permanent employee without the cabinet approval.

Further the Financial Director has illegally recruited and appointed a female to the post of Assistant finance director, the union said.
In addition, the unions stated in the letter to the President that the Finance Director has recruited several others illegally without following proper recruitment procedures.

No proper investigation

While millions of rupees of the Cultural Funs were misappropriated by the previous regime officials, to date there has not been a proper investigation initiated regarding these charges.

When we contacted the Central Cultural Fund Administrative Director Gamini Lenora regarding these allegations by the union, he denied any knowledge regarding the issue. He further stated that he was unable to make any comment without the approval of the Director General of the Central Cultural Fund.

(Daya Nettasinghe)