2023-01-20
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) met on 19.01.2023 under the chairmanship of Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara to look into the current performance of the Consumer Affairs Authority. Accordingly, attention was paid to the following points.
1. A proposal to make necessary recommendations to protect the consumer rights
COPE raised questions regarding the responsibility of the Consumer Affairs Authority. The committee was of the opinion that although the main responsibility of the Authority is to protect consumer rights through empowering consumers, streamlining trade and good promotions, the Authority is not working according to that vision. Accordingly, the Committee recommended the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security to report to COPE within two weeks how the Consumer Affairs Authority can deal with the protection of consumer rights.
2. A program that goes beyond traditional strategies to control commodity prices
The Authority was also told to prepare a program that goes beyond traditional price control to control commodity prices. The committee's attention was particularly focused on the current egg price control. Thus, instructions were given for the two Secretaries to the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture to coordinate with the relevant officials to prepare a price formula to determine the price of an egg within three days and to give instructions to calculate the relevant cost for an egg accordingly. Thus, it was decided to summon the Secretaries to the Committee on Wednesday.
3. Suggestions to solve the existing problems in determining the price of eggs
The committee also asked the secretaries to the Ministries to present solutions to solve the obstacles to the government's decision to import eggs with the aim of providing eggs at subsidized prices to the people.
It was emphasized here that by preventing the import of eggs, injustice cannot be allowed to happen to the entire public of Sri Lanka for the sake of a handful of large-scale egg businessmen and therefore, all institutions should coordinate to determine a minimum price for eggs or take steps to import eggs.
In order to protect the consumer by maintaining a control price for eggs, as well as the need for the consumer affairs authority and other relevant institutions to operate in good coordination in matters such as egg import, it was emphasized here.
4. An immediate placement for a permanent Director General of the Consumer Authority
The consumer affairs authority was also instructed to act promptly to appoint a permanent Director General. It was disclosed that there has only been an Acting Director General appointed for many years now. It was also disclosed at the committee that this position is vacant since the retirement of the former Acting Director General last December. The Auditor General pointed out that in the absence of a Director General, it will not be possible to implement certain powers of the Act. Accordingly, the COPE Chairman advised to consult with the Department of Management Services and take necessary steps to recruit the Director General, one of the most important positions in the organization.
He also instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to appoint an Acting Director General within two weeks.
5. Inform within a week regarding the action taken for the purpose of updating the Authority Act
Since the updating of the Consumer Authority Act No. 09 of 2003 has been delayed, it was instructed to report to COPE within a week the planned method and to appoint a committee at the ministerial level and take to necessary steps immediately. The Secretary to the Ministry informed the committee about the progress of amending the Act. The committee emphasized the need to speed up the amendment of this Act as it has been delayed for 17 years.
6. A program for more effective employment of graduates
The COPE Chairman also instructed the secretary to the Ministry to propose to COPE within a month a program to increase the performance and productivity levels of nearly 400 graduates currently holding various responsibilities in the Authority with relevant Performance Level Indicators (KPIs). Attention was also paid to the non-implementation and not providing prompt response to consume complaints. Accordingly, the committee emphasized the need to act quickly to employ these graduates more effectively.
7. A concrete plan in line with the revised Act is expected within three months
Since there is no concrete plan for the Authority so far, the chairman of COPE informed that a feasible concrete plan should be prepared and reported to the committee within three months in accordance with the amended Act. It was also pointed out that this compact plan should be implemented by targeting the existing problems, customer issues, raids etc. as well as the implementation of the vision, objectives and mission of the institution.
8. Need for a research unit and data bank
It was also informed to initiate a specified research unit for the consumer affairs authority. The need for a research unit was pointed out in order to make more accurate decisions as the authority constantly relies on production, market and consumer data in fulfilling its responsibilities. The need to maintain a data bank related to import, production and business was also discussed here.
9. A proposal that a program should be urgently established for the coordination of the authority and various related institutions to protect consumer rights.
COPE also informed that a program should be urgently established for the coordination of the authority and various institutions related to it in order to protect consumer rights.
State Ministers Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura, Hon. Lohan Ratwatte, Hon. Indika Anuruddha, Hon. D. V. Chanaka, Hon. Shantha Bandara, Members of Parliament Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. Madhura Withanage were present at the Committee meeting held.
Furthermore, officials including Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Mr. P. M. B Athapattu, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Chairman to the Consumer Affairs Authority Mr. Shantha Niriella were also present at this Committee meeting held.
2026-07-30
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development held extensive discussions on the Sri Lanka Ports Authority's (SLPA) current operational performance, the progress of its development projects, financial performance for 2026, the implementation of recommendations previously made by the Committee, and the Authority's 2024 Annual Report.The discussion took place when the Committee met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of parliament S. M. Marikkar.The Committee reviewed the financial progress and profitability recorded by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority during the past six months and discussed measures required to sustain this positive performance.Particular attention was paid to the growing regional and domestic competition faced by the Port of Colombo. The Committee sought clarifications from officials regarding the competitive pressures arising from the expansion of India's Vizhinjam Port, the investment made in that port by one of the world's leading shipping companies, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and plans to increase the capacity of the Port of Hambantota.The Committee also held detailed discussions on the progress of development projects aimed at expanding the capacity of the Port of Colombo, the reasons for delays in implementing these projects, issues encountered in procurement and tender procedures, and the financial impact of these delays on the Government.The Committee emphasized the need to conduct a proper audit into the causes of the delays in order to identify the parties responsible. It further stressed the importance of implementing more efficient procurement and project management mechanisms to prevent similar delays in the future.The development of regional ports, including Hambantota, Galle and Kankesanthurai, strengthening related infrastructure, and enhancing local capacity by increasing the participation of domestic construction companies, consultants and technical professionals in port development projects were also discussed.At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee underscored the need to expedite measures to ensure that Sri Lanka Ports Authority projects are completed within the stipulated timeframes, strengthen institutional accountability and transparency, and further enhance the Authority's efficiency and profitability as a state-owned enterprise.The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Manjula Suraweera Arachchi, Chathura Galappaththi, Ravindra Bandara, Dhanushka Ranganath, and Shantha Padma Kumara, as well as the Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and other relevant officials.
2026-07-30
The Hon. Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasinghe stated that action will be taken, based on the recommendations of a committee appointed to examine housing projects that were commenced during previous administrations but left incomplete due to various reasons.The matter was discussed at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Housing, Construction and Water Supply, held in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Minister.The Minister said that consideration is being given to allocating funds through the 2027 Budget to implement a new programme to complete these housing projects.He noted that a number of housing projects initiated in previous years had been abandoned midway because the loans and grant funding allocated for them had not been fully disbursed. According to the Minister, there are nearly 5,000 such incomplete housing units.Accordingly, a five-member committee, co-chaired by two former Secretaries to the Ministry, has been appointed to identify housing units that are in a condition suitable for use and to make recommendations on the future course of action regarding those projects.The Minister stated that the committee has already commenced its work by gathering information on the relevant housing projects, identifying houses that are fit for occupation, and formulating recommendations on the measures to be taken.He further said that final decisions regarding the abandoned housing projects will be made based on the recommendations submitted by the committee.The Minister also announced that assistance will be provided next year to families requiring support to complete partially constructed houses. It is expected that approximately 2,000 families will benefit from this programme.Meanwhile, Members of Parliament who attended the Committee meeting raised issues relating to the housing and water supply sectors in their respective electorates.The Ministry also agreed to convene a special meeting, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, to discuss housing-related issues, including housing projects for low-income families in the Colombo District.
2026-07-30
The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) held an extensive discussion on the first Annual Report for 2025 of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), which was established under the Public Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024.The discussion took place when the Committee met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, with the participation of Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Ajith Agalakada, Nimal Palihena, Attorney-at-Law Chithral Fernando, Wijesiri Basnayake, M.K.M. Aslam, Thilina Samarakoon, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.The Committee paid particular attention to the impact on public debt servicing arising from the increase in the public debt stock during 2025, fluctuations in interest rates, and the depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee. The importance of coordination between the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance in public debt management was also discussed.It was explained that the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) was established under the Public Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024 to consolidate public debt management under a single institution. Its key responsibilities include managing public debt, ensuring debt sustainability, formulating the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, and submitting the Annual Public Debt Management Report to Parliament.The Committee also held an extensive discussion on the shortage of human resources within the PDMO and the need to provide its officers with specialized training in international financial markets and modern debt management practices. Officials also briefed the Committee on capacity-building programmes being implemented with technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The Committee instructed officials to submit the Training Needs Assessment (TNA) report being prepared for the PDMO within two weeks.It was further revealed that the report is expected to serve as the basis for identifying knowledge and skills gaps among PDMO staff, developing a structured annual training plan, identifying training requirements in technical areas such as international financial market operations, debt management and risk management, and planning the budget required for future training programmes.The Committee also focused on government guarantees extended to state-owned enterprises, the progress of debt restructuring, and future measures required to further strengthen transparency and efficiency in public debt management.
2026-07-22
The draft Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared for the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative was approved recently at a meeting held in Parliament with the participation of Parliament's development partner organizations.The approval was granted during a meeting of the Caucus chaired by its Co-Chair, Hon. Member of Parliament Shanakkiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam.The draft Terms of Reference was developed based on proposals and recommendations received during a workshop organized by the Caucus in recent months to gather stakeholder input for its preparation.The meeting also agreed that, following the approval of the Terms of Reference, the document would be submitted to Hon. President, and that a discussion would be held with the President on behalf of the Caucus.
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