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| Sunday, 24 April 2005 |
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Corruption galore at EDCS by Jayantha Sri Nissanka Millions of rupees have been swindled by some members of the management of the Education Department Co-operative Society (EDCS). But, none of the managements during the past five years have taken any effort to minimise corruption and bring responsible officers to the book. Financial transactions of the EDCS have not been audited since 2003 according to the present Secretary Nelson Edirisinghe. Whereas National Organiser of the Ceylon Teachers' Union Joseph Stalin contradicts by saying accounts have not audited during the last five years. Although there were corruption charges against officials not a single complaint had been lodged at any Police station against them, Stalin said. Stalin urged President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as the Education Minister to take immediate action to audit the EDCS accounts and take those responsible for fraud to book. Though the EDCS monthly income of around Rs. 150 million generated from interest from loans and membership fees, the EDCS is running today with a Rs. 30 million bank overdraft due to the mismanagement. The EDCS is the South East Asia's largest co-operative society with 150,000 members. Now an intense tussle is going on between trade union leaders to grab power after the former Secretary was sacked on the charge of misuse of resources. Some members are planning to rally round the Guru Gedara after it opened on April 26. Gates of the Guru Gedara was closed on April 20 when some members stormed the building. National Organiser Stalin charged that the present Interim Administration had used Rs.3.8 million to purchase vehicles without following proper procedures. Another Rs.1.2 million had been swindled by the petty cashier. Huge phone bills every month and misuse of office vehicles for their personal purposes. The EDCS opened a sub-office in Gampola when the Co-operative Minister was Abdul Cader at a garage in his house paying a monthly rent of Rs. 35,000. "It is understandable if the EDCS opened an office in Kandy but not in Gampola and that too at a garage of a Minister's house", Stalin said. Past managements had purchased overpriced properties to earn millions as commission. A program was also introduced for teachers to go on pilgrimages to Dambadiwa. But members of the management were the first to go to Dambadiwa on a 'trial run'. Stalin blamed that the present management had recruited 52 persons who are relatives. Management had also not paid funeral expenses for members but gave scholarships to children of members since 2002. |
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