In the first six months of 2022, when asked about the progress of 15 decisions taken by the Cabinet to provide relief to the people in the country during the first six months of 2022, the government agencies failed to provide information regarding 14 of those 15 decisions, the Research Director of Verity Research Institute, a leading independent research institute in Sri Lanka. Subashini Abeysinghe says.
While joined Sirasa Channel’s program, she said regarding the progress of the implementation of the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers for her studies even though she requested according to the Access to Information Act the requested information none except the Development Finance Department was able to provide an answer.
In the discussion with Journalist Ashoka Dias, Subashini Abeysinghe mentioned that in view of the enormous difficulties the people of the country suffered at that time, despite the fact that they inquired about 15 Cabinet decisions taken regarding the lack of medicines, food and agriculture and energy in the country, the relevant institutions refused to provide information about the implementation of those 14 decisions.
Citing two examples for that, Verity Research Director of Investigation stated that when asked about a decision regarding the implementation of an agri-food crop cultivation program under the initiative of the Department of Prisons and the Commissioner of Essential Services, they refused to give relevant information.
Also, in order to control the expenditure of foreign exchange in the importation of pharmaceutical equipment needed by the country, she also mentioned that in the inquiry about the decision made to procure one product from a local manufacturer, it was revealed that the material has not been purchased so far.
The clip of the program is given below.
