2023-10-05
The National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) under the Ministry of Finance was summoned to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on 03.10.2023 under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara.
The implementation of the recommendations given to the NITF in the COPE meeting held on 11.05.2023 was reviewed at this meeting. Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Mr. Sarath Kumara, Chairman of NITF Attorney-at-Law Mrs. Sagala Abeywickrama, Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Gamani Liyanarachchi and a group of officials participated in this committee. Also, the former board of directors including the former chairman of NITF Mr. Senaka Abeygunasekara, was also summoned to this meeting to inquire about a decision given previously.
The COPE chairman commended the NITF officials for the progress made by the institution by following the recommendations given at the previous COPE meeting and drew attention to the following points.
Filling up of existing vacancies including key management positions
The Chief Executive Officer pointed out that the vacancies in the existing positions are being filled. But it was also revealed that no suitable applicant has come forward for the post of Manager (Reinsurance) based on the existing salary scale. Thus, the chairman of the committee directed the Deputy Secretary to the treasury to take a common policy decision to increase the salary scale to suit certain positions in the public service.
Also, the officials said that approval has been granted for the establishment of a Risk Management Division and a related post.
Customer Call Management
The committee reiterated the need for an efficient Customer Call Management Unit to be set up as soon as possible. By August 2023, it was revealed that 58% of calls received by the call center were answered, but 42% could not be answered. It was also revealed that requests have been made to the Management Services Department for a permanent staff of 15 individuals. Accordingly, officials were directed by committee chair to take immediate action to develop said call center. The NITF chairperson said that Monday has been allotted as a special public service day and a special telephone number has also been introduced for the customer service.
Delay in insurance claims
There was a huge public allegation since it took 200-240 days for insurance claims and now it was revealed that the claim process is being completed within a period of 40 days. The committee instructed the officials to reduce this period to 10 days. The NITF chairperson said that there are some delays only for incomplete applications. Thus, the need to conduct awareness programs among government officials to bring applications without defects was pointed out.
Revenue improvement strategic plan
Under the new income improvement strategic plan, measures are expected to be taken including introducing a new Platinum Insurance Policy, introducing insurance schemes for migrant workers, introducing insurance schemes for foreign tourists coming to Sri Lanka, and introducing insurance schemes for new institutions such as universities, the chairperson said.
As it was observed in the COPE meeting that this institution is going towards a great decline, it has been recommended to the Ministry of Finance to submit further proposals related to the institution. Accordingly, the Ministry has submitted proposals to affiliate this institution with the Sri Lanka Insurance Company, the COPE Chairman said.
But the NITF chairperson emphasized that the institution can be raised to a better place by working along the lines of the new strategic plan. Also, the committee advised to improve the Motor underwriting which is currently run at a loss and maintain it in a profitable condition.
Apart from this, attention was also paid to the preparation of an Integrated Computer System. Thus, the committee recommended that this work be handed over to a suitable institution through a consultant.
Questioning the former chairman
In addition, attention was drawn to the fact that although the fund should receive 100% of the money obtained from all insurance covers issued by insurance companies regarding strikes, riots and terrorist activities, receiving only 12%. Mr. Senaka Abeygunasekara, who was a former chairman, was also summoned to inquire about this matter and stated that this was a decision taken even before him. The committee chair informed the Auditor General to look into the matter further.
Apart from this, matters were also discussed with regard to the current performance of the institution including Marketing and Promotion.
State Minister Hon. Janaka Wakkambura, Members of Parliament Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Hon. Nimal Lanza, Hon. Jayantha Samaraweera, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatta, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksa, Hon. M. Rameswaran, Hon. Madura Withanage and Hon. (Prof.) Charita Herath were present at this committee meeting.
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.
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