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.
2025-11-27
The Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Najith Indika, stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board must take the lead in streamlining the procurement process and easing existing legal barriers related to importing equipment used to test drivers for drug use.These matters were taken up during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, which met in Parliament on 20th November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. MP (Dr.) Najith Indika.The Committee reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals and special project implementations of the Ministry of Public Security & Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government.Officials from the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau highlighted the difficulties in conducting roadside drug tests due to the lack of necessary equipment.The Committee Chair noted that the government has prioritized eliminating drug abuse and stressed the importance of regulating drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of drugs. He further stated that essential equipment required to identify drug users must be made readily available and that legal barriers affecting their procurement process and importation should be addressed promptly.Police officials also informed the Committee that notable progress has been made in implementing budgeted programmes related to drug prevention. Officials from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board briefed the Committee on the progress achieved under their purview as well.The Committee additionally reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government. The Ministry Secretary reported significant progress and noted that many suspended development projects have now resumed.Hon. Members of Parliament G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Dharmapriya Wijesinghe were also present at the committee meeting.
2025-11-27
The appointments of three chairmen of state-owned institutions were approved by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts yesterday (Nov. 26).Accordingly, the appointments of Dr. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. M.D.C.A. Perera as the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, and Eng. P.V.A. Hemalal, as the Chairman of Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited, were approved by the Committee on High Posts.The meeting was chaired by Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and a group of members of the committee participated in this meeting.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection recently (Nov. 18) reviewed 12 performance reports and annual reports of institutions functioning under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.The Committee met in Parliament on the 18th under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.Accordingly, the Committee examined the 2022, 2023 and 2024 performance reports of the Registrar’s Office of the Supreme Court, the 2023 and 2024 performance reports of Judges of Supreme Court, the 2022 Annual Report of the Supreme Court Complex Management Board, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.In addition, the Committee reviewed the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Official Languages, the 2020,2021,2022 & 2023 Annual Reports of the Official Languages Commission, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Institute of Language Education and Training, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Prisons, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Debt Conciliation Board.The Committee also inquired into audit observations related to these institutions, and relevant officials presented their explanations. Attention was also drawn to the current activities of these institutions, as well as existing issues and shortcomings. The Committee Chair informed officials to notify the Committee if amendments to the legal framework governing these institutions were necessary to ensure more efficient service delivery, and assured the Committee’s support in facilitating such changes.Further, regarding the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Community Based Corrections, it was noted that the Auditor General’s report highlighted the incomplete construction of the building for the Legal Aid and Community Correctional Office in Puttalam. The Committee requested a report on this matter.Accordingly, approval of the Committee was granted for all performance and annual reports reviewed, except for the 2023 and 2024 Annual Performance Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.Hon. Members of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Major General (Retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara, along with a group of government officials, participated in the Committee meeting.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital has examined the operation of private universities in Sri Lanka and the issues relating to their recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC).The matter was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament on 21 November 2025, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage.During the discussion, the Committee Chair highlighted the emergence of institutions awarding degrees of inadequate quality and the resulting harm caused. He noted that many such institutions operate with profit-making as their primary objective rather than providing quality education. The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire process, from student admission to awarding of degrees remains under the supervision of the UGC.The Vice Chair of the UGC, expressing his views, underscored the need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions. He explained that such a body would enable the creation of comprehensive data systems and facilitate links with universities worldwide, allowing access to essential information on institutional standards and programme quality. This, he noted, would help ensure accurate decision-making when granting approval to prospective private universities. These comments were further supported by the Additional Secretary (Non-State Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, and by officials of the UGC.The Committee also focused on issues related to state universities, scholarships offered for foreign degree programmes, and other related matters.Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Keleichelvi, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage (Attorney-at-Law), Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, and Sunil Rajapaksha, along with officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training and the UGC, were present at the discussion.
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