• The contract to develop the software had been given to the software developer in 2008 and it had been completed only in 2015
• An official from the SPC said the software is not being used due to certain shortcomings
• An estimated Rs.5 million is being paid annually for its maintenance

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

More than Rs. 600 million had been spent on a software package for a inventory of  medicine for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation( SPC) which is said to be malfunctioning at the moment, it was revealed at the meeting of Committee on Public Accounts ( COPE). As per the Facebook post of MP Harsha De Silva the SPC Chairman had revealed that the contract to develop the software had been given to the software developer in 2008 and it had been completed only in 2015. 

However an official from the SPC said the software is not being used due to certain shortcomings.   
It was also revealed that an estimated Rs.5 million is being paid annually for its maintenance.   
“ Can a country survive when such things take place?” De Silva questioned.   

COPE Chairman MP Charitha Herath said the remark made by SPC officials that procurement files are maintained manually cannot be accepted.