PARLIAMENT

Hon. Padmasiri Bandara,—To ask the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing,— (1)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether an advance payment of Rs. 17,639,938.86 has been      made to TRIAD Company, out of the total expenditure of             Rs. 19,301,403.61 for the media coverage of the opening ceremony of 42 shops at Bastion Mawatha, Pettah;

(ii) whether the procurement process has been  followed in that regard;

(iii) of the person who has the authority to approve the aforesaid  advance payment;

(iv) of the purpose of spending such a large amount of money for the  media coverage, as aforementioned;

(v) of the reason for not providing the aforesaid media coverage through a government media institution, if any media coverage  was provided for the aforesaid ceremony?

(b) If not, why?