2023-09-08
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka was summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on 06.09.2023 under the chairmanship of Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, Member of Parliament.
The 2020, 2021 Auditor General's reports and current performance of the said institution was taken up at the Committee meeting held. Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Sarath Kumar, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission Manjula Fernando, Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe and other officials were invited to this event.
Special attention was paid to the following.
False statement by the Ex-Chairman
The Auditor General, pointed out that the facts regarding the statement made by the former Chairman of the Commission stating that a liter of fuel can be provided for 250 rupees is false as his data and calculations are wrong. During the previous COPE meeting, it was recommended that the Auditor General prepare a report in this regard and accordingly, the Auditor General pointed out that these calculations by the former Chairman have been done taking into account only the cost of the first customs declaration (CUSDEC) prepared on the basis of a provisional invoice submitted to the customs to clear the imported petroleum from customs. Furthermore, he pointed out in detail a number of other reasons that affect this calculation.
The Committee members pointed out that the statement made by the former Chairman by misleading the entire people in such a situation has become a complete lie today and action should be taken against such officials. The Committee Chair expressed his displeasure in this regard, pointing out that the director general of the institute has also acted irresponsibly. Accordingly, the public should be notified within two weeks through a public notice that the previous statement was wrong and ordered that a report be submitted to COPE with all the correct data and calculations in this regard. It was also decided that it should be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for a formal investigation. The Committee Chair emphasized that steps should be taken to stop such irresponsible activities in the future.
Ex-Chairman renting a car in violation of financial regulations
Attention was drawn to the fact that a vehicle was rented for the use of the former Chairman of the Commission without following a formal procurement process and without entering into a valid agreement. During the investigation conducted by the Auditor General, it has been revealed that a car of the category of a Mercedes-Benz has been acquired on a monthly rental basis of 375000 rupees from December 7, 2021, without a formal procurement process. Accordingly, the Auditor General also pointed out that 2.1 million rupees have been illegally paid up to May 31, 2022 and that these payments have been made in violation of financial regulations with a number of problems.
The Auditor General also said that despite submitting a number of audit queries in this regard, no investigation has been carried out by the institution. The Director General was severely criticized by the Committee Chair for answering irresponsibly when inquired about this. The Deputy Secretary to the Treasury was directed to report the action taken under Financial Regulation 119 in this regard within two weeks. The Chair also said that steps will be taken to hand over this information to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Vacancy of a number of posts including that of an Internal Auditor
It was disclosed that the post of Internal Auditor has been vacant since February and thus the audit and management committee meetings have not been held during this period. Furthermore, It was also revealed that a number of key positions including Finance Director, Human Resources and Administration Director, Deputy Director-Operations are vacant. The Deputy Secretary to the Treasury pointed out that although certain powers have been given by the Commission Act, since it is a government institute, the approval or concurrence of the Treasury and its departments should be obtained regarding its recruitment procedure, salary structure, etc. Therefore, he said that discussions will be carried out in this regard. The Committee instructed to take steps to submit solutions to resolve the issue pertaining to these vacancies within two months.
Implementation of a vehicle loan scheme without Treasury approval
It was disclosed that a car loan scheme is being implemented without the approval of the Treasury, where the Commission will bear the difference between the interest charged by the bank and the 4.25 percent. It was disclosed that this was given subject to a maximum of 5 million rupees and a repayment period of 5 years. It was emphasized that such cases are suspended by a Treasury circular, saying that it is based on a provision of the Act. Accordingly, the Deputy Secretary to the treasury was informed to notify the steps taken in this regard within two months.
Inquiries also made regarding making payments without a recommendation, approval and signature in certain payment vouchers made by the Commission. The Committee emphasized that such weaknesses should be avoided as soon as possible and the institution should be put on the right track.
It was pointed out by the Committee that although arrangements were made to work independently under the Act, the administration has completely collapsed and many irregularities have occurred due to the complete loss of treasury control. The Committee emphasized that measures should be taken urgently to control this situation.
The Committee Chair said that instead of working independently, the Commission has worked to ensure the existence of the Commission and said that the they will be summoned again in three months.
Hon. Indika Anuruddha Herath, Hon. D. V. Chanaka, Members of Parliament Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardana, Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. Jayantha Samaraweera, Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. (Prof.) Charitha Herath, were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-09-18
Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, MP (Parliament of Sri Lanka) was awarded the 2026 New Parliamentarian Award in recognition of his contribution to promoting inclusive parliamentary democracy. The award was officially presented to him yesterday (Sep. 17) at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa.Elected in November 2024 as Sri Lanka's first-ever blind Member of Parliament, he has advanced the principles of disability-inclusive governance through his work as Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. Through cross-institutional collaboration, he has also delivered practical reforms, best exemplified through Sri Lanka's first national participatory budget consultation with persons with disabilities.
2026-09-18
The Select Committee of Parliament to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, has decided to summon representatives of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils before the Committee to examine how local authorities coordinated their response during the disaster situation.Committee members particularly highlighted the need for further investigation into how local authorities, including Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils, were involved in official communication and coordination processes during the disaster.At a recent meeting of the Committee held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, information was sought from members of the National Council for Disaster Management and the District Secretaries of Kandy and Matale regarding the disaster management process in the Kandy and Matale districts.Accordingly, the Committee focused its attention on the early warning systems, communication among government institutions, and emergency response procedures in response to the heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding experienced in these areas from 23 to 27 November 2025.The Committee also discussed the need to establish formal written procedures to be followed during emergency disaster situations, conduct disaster preparedness drills regularly, and further improve the efficiency of early warning systems.Committee members, including Hon. Deputy Ministers Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara and Anton Jayakody, and Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Anuradha Jayaratne, Rohini Kumari Wijerathne, Kanthasamy Prabu, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, also participated in the meeting.
2026-09-17
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy Affairs approved the Order relating to the calling for investment proposals for the exploration and development of petroleum resources in Sri Lanka and the formalization of the relevant process.The approval was granted at a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee held recently (Sep. 11) at Parliament under the chairmanship of Anura Karunathilaka, Hon. Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Energy.The Order, made by the Minister of Energy under Section 48 of the Petroleum Resources Act, No. 21 of 2021, read together with Section 17 of the said Act, and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, was published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2497/37 dated 16 July 2026.Under this Order, any person seeking to explore or develop petroleum resources in one or more identified blocks is required to submit an investment proposal together with payment of the administrative fee specified in the relevant invitation for bids.Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Illyas, Members of Parliament, officials of the Ministry of Energy, and other officials participated in the meeting.
2026-09-17
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, emphasized that universities must take the necessary measures to ensure that victim students have confidence in the investigations being conducted into incidents of ragging at universities.This matter was discussed at a meeting of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, convened under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, which was held at Parliament under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.The meeting included an extensive discussion on measures to be taken regarding vacancies in the higher education sector, particularly at universities, as well as incidents of ragging.The Prime Minister pointed out that universities have a moral responsibility to prevent and control ragging and emphasized that students subjected to ragging must have confidence in the investigative procedures currently in place at universities.Accordingly, the Prime Minister stressed that investigations into ragging incidents must be efficient and effective and should be conducted in a manner that enables relief to be provided to victim students without delay.The Prime Minister also inquired from university vice-chancellors about the failure to date to make appointments that have already been approved by the Ministry to fill vacancies at universities. She instructed officials to take the necessary measures to fill the approved vacancies expeditiously.The meeting was attended by Hon. Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Social Empowerment; Hon. Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education; Hon. Member of Parliament Manjula Sugath Ratnayake; university vice-chancellors; the Chairman of the University Grants Commission; and a number of other representatives.
Handbook of Parliament
The System of Elections in Sri Lanka
How Parliament Works
Business of Parliament
Copyright © The Parliament of Sri Lanka.
All Rights Reserved.
Design & Developed by TekGeeks
