Did Continental Insurance Lanka pay a government analyst more than the official fees?

Documents shown to us indicates that officers of Continental Insurance Lanka Limited (CILL) requested for separate payments to a now retired Government Analyst for services provided to the company. It was made clear that this payment was separate from the official payments to the Government Analyst.

A TOKEN PAYMENT TO GOVT ANALYST MR JAYAMANA

Subject: FW: Mode of token appreciation payment (Rs 7650/-only )-GA (Mr.Jayamana)

Dear Mr. De SILVA,
From the undernoted Mail of Jeyakumaran, it will be observed that Mr. Jayamanne of Government
Analyst dept. has requested cash payments due to constraints explained. I am given to understand that Sanath has already updated you in this regard.

“The Group Chainman has already approved the payment of Rs. 7,650/- for each case to
Mr, Jayamanne as per attached approval.”

In the circumstances would recommend that this payment be made in cash as Mr.Jayamanne is
supporting Continental and his reports are a strength in repudiating claims.Further he has assured us

that in case of a Court Case he will stand by the report.

I have discussed the issue with Shanuka and he has no constraint in making a cash payment.
Submitted for approval and /or instructions please. Thanks

Gerry Gunadasa | Chief Executive Officer
Continental Insurance Lanka Ltd
#79, Dr. C.W.W.Kannangara Mawatha | Colombo 00700 | SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 520 0224 | Fax: +94 11 520 0350 |GSM: +94 77 775 7414
Email: gerry@cilanka.com |web: www.cilanka.com

I have discussed the issue with Shanuka and he has no constraint in making a cash payment.
Submitted for approval and /or instructio

From: Jeyakumaran [mailto:jeyakumaran@cilanka.com] Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 9:26 AM
To: Gerry Gunadasa; ‘Sanath Ranaweera’
Cc: DISA

Subject: Mode of token appreciation payment (Rs 7650/- only )-GA (Mr.Jayamana)
Dear Sir,
As explained by Mr.sanath (AGM-M/C) regard to the above so far we paid by cheque above payment , however on going situation GA faces some issues

when en-cashing at counters.
In order to avoid such uncomfortable situation ,kindly request to pay by cash .
Seek your approval please.
Rgds,

S Jeyakumaran | Chief Engineer
Continental Insurance Lanka Limited
#75,Arnold Rathnayake Mawatha | Colombo 10 | Sri Lanka Tel: +94 11 520 0655 | Fax: +94 11 268 2528 | GSM: +94 77 7507 769
Email: jeyakumaran@cilanka.com | web: www.cilanka.com

From the brieg exchange of e-mail in 2015 it is apparent that CILL paid the official fees to the Government Analysts Department but worryingly CILL also paid what they describe in the e-mails as “Token of appreciation” payments to Mr Jayamana, who is now the subject of charges brought against him by the Bribery Commissioners (CIABOC)

Astonishingly the CEO a veteran of the industry Gerry Gunadasa writes to Chaminda De Silva with alarming clarity:

payment be made in cash as Mr.Jayamanne is supporting Continental and his reports are a strength in repudiating claims. Further he has assured us
that in case of a Court Case he will stand by the report.”

Independent analysts state that this is a worrying scenario and brings the entire industry and its claim settlement process into a needless spotlight.

The question policyholders will want an answer to is if the Government Analyst is doing his job, why should he receive separate payments?

As for his assurance – purported – that he will stand by Continental in case of a Court Case is really neither here nor there. Afterall if the Analysts report is clear and not compromised by any way, the Analyst would have to stand by his analysis in a court of law!

What ails the scenario is the apparent fact that the Analyst was paid separately as his reports were “a strength to Continental in repudiating claims”.

Equally worrying – but to long term observers par for the course – is that the Group Chairman had authorised these payments. In 2015 the Group Chairman was one Harry Jayawardena, now deceased and of Stassens fame. His son DHS Jayawardena is now the Group Chairman.