2022-07-05
News Categories : Committee News
The Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Member of Parliament Hon. (Prof) Charitha Herath said that the Parliament will focus on taking special measures against officials who do not implement the recommendations and decisions made by COPE.
He mentioned this at a special meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises which was held in Parliament yesterday (04).
The meeting was held especially with the participation of the members of the committee and the views of its members on 3 main issues were obtained. Accordingly, the review of the progress made pertaining to COPE investigations conducted during the period from February 23rd, 2022 to date was considered at the meeting. Accordingly, the Chairman of COPE stated that the investigations carried out during this period have been complied into a report and copies of the report have been given to the members of the committee.
He further mentioned that the decisions related to several institutions including SriLankan Airlines, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, State Timber Corporation, People's Bank, Development Lotteries Board, Building Materials Corporation, Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Private) Limited were included in the report. The chairman of the committee further pointed out that certain reports related to certain decisions given by the committee have not yet been given to the committee by these institutions.
The Members of Parliament who were present, pointed out that strict action should be taken against the officials who do not implement these decisions. They pointed out that the Parliament and the committee should intervene further regarding the matter. The members further said that the public should be aware that this is a place which performs important functions going beyond media shows or restricting itself to simple chatter.
Thus, the Chairman of the Committee stated that the Committee is working according to the legislative powers received in terms of the Standing Orders and the Constitution. He also pointed out that identified important institutions will be called back and special measures will be taken as Parliament in the future.
Furthermore, COPE decided the dates related to the meeting aimed at specifically discussing the implementation of public debt and financial policies of the Central Bank.
Accordingly, COPE decided to hold a special meeting to discuss on this regard on the 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd of this month. The mutual agreement resulted in the summoning of officials including the former Governors of the Central Bank, former secretaries of the Ministry of Finance.
Furthermore, it was decided to have a special meeting of COPE on August 02, 03, 04 and 05 to look into the electricity generation, purchase, distribution and projects of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
In addition, it was also decided in this meeting to call the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to the COPE on the 7th of this month.
Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister, Members of Parliament Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Indika Anuruddha, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Hon. S.M. Marikkar, Hon. Nalin Bandara, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Madhura Withanage were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-05-26
The Central Provincial Council was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General’s triennial report for the years 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s report for 2024, and the Council’s current performance.The committee meeting, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, was held recently at Parliament.During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress made in implementing recommendations issued at the COPA meeting held on 5th September, 2019. Discussions focused on the incident involving the destruction of files belonging to the Central Provincial Passenger Transport Authority.It was revealed that directives issued by the relevant court and the Presidential Secretary regarding the incident had not been implemented by the responsible authorities. In this regard, the Committee Chairman instructed officials of the Central Provincial Council to submit all reports and correspondence related to the incident to the committee.In addition, the committee discussed an incident involving the unlawful transfer of a rest house owned by the Road Development Authority to a third party in violation of lease conditions. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed officials to identify the officers responsible for making the relevant decisions and to submit a report to the committee on the legal action being taken in connection with the matter.The committee also held extensive discussions on irregularities identified by the National Audit Office in road development and passenger transport services in the Central Province, as well as issues affecting the health sector.Expressing his views during the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the importance of expediting ongoing investigations within institutions and focusing on follow-up action. He further stressed that if a state institution generates profits, such profits should accrue to the government, and if such revenue is used for institutional activities, established legal provisions and procedures must be strictly followed.The meeting was attended by committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Sunil Rathnasiri, Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, Ajantha Gammeddage, Chanaka Madugoda, T.K. Jayasundara and Lal Premanath along with a group of government officials.
2026-05-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently sought views from the Attorney General’s Department and members of the Election Commission.The discussion took place when the committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Attorney General’s Department briefed the committee on the existing legal obstacles to holding Provincial Council elections and the possible ways in which such obstacles could be removed to facilitate the conduct of the elections.The Election Commission informed the committee that it is prepared to conduct Provincial Council elections at any time under the legal provisions enacted by Parliament based on the committee’s recommendations.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra, Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law and Muneer Mulaffer as well as committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The committee member M. Nizam Kariapper, P.C also participated virtually.
2026-05-25
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the girl involved in the sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.This decision was taken during the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, held in Parliament today (May 25). Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 05.06.2026 with the participation of relevant institutions including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.In addition to the incident, which has generated significant public concern, the discussion is also expected to focus extensively on strengthening the laws and empowering the institutions required to prevent all forms of violence against women and children.Meanwhile, it was also decided to appoint a subcommittee under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to oversee the future legal proceedings relating to the Anuradhapura girl’s case and to identify the institutional and legal reforms required in the country to eliminate violence against women and children.The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Hon. Members of Parliament Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella. The other members of the subcommittee will be Hon. Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-05-25
The progress of implementing the new education reforms was reviewed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi. During the meeting held in Parliament on the 19th, extensive discussions were held on the implementation of the new education reforms.Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, briefed the committee on the manner in which the new education reforms are being implemented.The meeting was attended by Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, committee members, provincial education secretaries, school principals, and several other officials.
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