A staggering Rs. 1,750 million dairy cow import scandal from the so-called “Good Governance” Yahapalana era has come to light, as revealed in a fresh audit report that exposes both financial mismanagement and a complete breakdown in accountability.
According to the National Audit Office, the Ministry of Economic Development in 2018 paid an advance of Rs. 1,750 million to Australia’s Wellport Rural Export Company to import 15,000 dairy cows, a number that wildly exceeded the original plan of just 2,500. Even more shockingly, not a single cow from this batch has arrived or benefited the country to date.
The report outlines that the dairy cow project was executed in three phases, and the questionable transaction occurred during the third phase, ignoring red flags already raised in audit findings from the first two. Despite those warnings, authorities bypassed proper procurement procedures, placing orders with no regard for due process or oversight.
Instead of sticking to the vetted plan, officials unilaterally expanded the contract, deciding to increase the import volume by sixfold. They also paid a 20% advance on the total value Rs. 1,749 million in public funds, even though neither the cows nor the infrastructure to accommodate them was secured.
The most damning part? The audit confirms that no returns or operational benefits will materialize from this transaction until at least February 2025, if at all. That means the money remains tied up in a ghost contract, with zero accountability and no visible outcome.
This exposé not only stains the Yahapalana regime’s legacy of “clean governance” but also serves as a stark reminder of how deeply flawed planning, unchecked decision-making, and political negligence can cost taxpayers hundreds of crores with nothing to show for it.
