By Roy Denish
Corruption complaint filed against Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan by the Ceylon Teachers’ Union alleges financial misconduct during his tenure as Jaffna District Secretary. However, the internal audit reports cited in support of the complaint do not establish several of the allegations made against him.
COLOMBO – The Ceylon Teachers’ Union has lodged a formal complaint with Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission, calling for an investigation into Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan over administrative decisions made during his previous tenure as Jaffna District Secretary.
The complaint concerns two development projects undertaken between March 2015 and February 2020, when Vethanayahan served as the district’s senior administrative official.
However, a review of the internal audit reports cited in support of the complaint reveals significant differences between the union’s allegations of systemic fraud and the administrative shortcomings documented by auditors.
The union has accused Vethanayahan of financial misappropriation, bypassing procedural approvals and procuring substandard machinery in exchange for alleged kickbacks.
Among the central allegations is the suspected misuse of more than Rs. 6 million in public funds.
Internal audit records confirm that a payment of Rs. 6,032,200 was made to supplier Analytical Instruments (Pvt) Ltd in November 2017. Subsequent correspondence from the District Secretary indicated that the supplied items failed to meet the required technical specifications.
However, the audit findings identify the issue as a payment for goods that failed to comply with procurement specifications, rather than establishing that the funds were stolen or diverted.
Similarly, while the union alleges that the projects proceeded without final Cabinet approval, the audit records confirm that approval had been formally requested.
The auditors noted the absence of a confirmation letter in the relevant physical file. This represents a documentation deficiency but does not, on its own, establish that Cabinet approval had been refused or that the projects proceeded without authorisation.
The complaint further alleges that machinery was deliberately purchased outside the required technical specifications to facilitate brokerage commissions and bribery.
Although the audits confirm that certain bidders failed to provide the requested technical information, they contain no findings establishing the payment of illicit commissions, kickbacks or bribes.
Regarding asset maintenance, the union alleges that equipment was left exposed to the elements and damaged before the completion of the relevant buildings.
Audit reports from 2020 indicate that equipment worth several million rupees was stored under unsuitable conditions. However, the reports do not establish whether the machinery sustained permanent physical damage.
Importantly, while the union’s complaint explicitly names Vethanayahan and alleges fraudulent conduct, the underlying audit reports assess institutional actions undertaken by the Jaffna District Secretariat rather than assigning individual criminal responsibility.
Furthermore, although the audits refer to administrative shortcomings, including the misuse of government funds and wasteful expenditure, they do not establish findings of fraud or bribery.
Vethanayahan assumed duties as Northern Province Governor in September 2024.
At the time of the reported complaint, Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission had not publicly confirmed whether it would initiate a formal investigation based on the union’s allegations.
The distinction between documented administrative failures and allegations of criminal misconduct remains central to assessing the complaint.
