The National Audit Office says that the Ceylon Electricity Board has paid an amount of Rs. 3256.4 million in the last two years (2019, 2020) as staff allowances.

Those payments have been made on the approval of the Board of Directors contrary to the provisions of the Management Services Circular. It is reported that this information has been revealed in audit sample tests carried out.

According to the audit report, an amount of Rs. 1,544.4 million was paid as staff allowances in the year 2020 and Rs. 1712 million in the year 2019.

It was also revealed that instead of giving vehicle loans at interest rates of 10 to 14 percent according to the State Enterprise Circular, the electricity board had given loans at 4.2 percent interest rates to its staff.

The Audit Office also points out that even though the Electricity Board is facing a severe financial crisis, it has paid staff loans without any heed.

In response, the CEB has said the board granted these benefits to increase the morale of the employees to work for the betterment of the company.

- Lalith Chaminda