2024-06-27
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Accounts expressed its displeasure for not taking formal action regarding a financial fraud committed by a management assistant who worked in the Minuwangoda Divisional Secretariat. Between 2011 and July 2013, the said management assistant defrauded more than 1.4 million of public funds. However, it was disclosed that the disciplinary order was given in 2015 for this fraud which was identified in 2013. Following the related disciplinary investigation, the committee expressed its displeasure that the officer was reinstated in the service and that the related defrauded amount was collected in installments.
The following matters were discussed when the Committee on Public Accounts met in Parliament recently (Jun. 20) to check the reports of the Auditor General and the current performance of the Gampaha District Secretariat for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Officials of the National Audit Office pointed out that the lack of regular supervision of the concerned officer's work was the main cause of this fraud. The officials of the Gampaha District Secretariat pointed out that the retirement gratuity of the said officer has also been completely cut off in order to settle the relevant fraud. However, the audit officers pointed out the need to first remove the officials and take relevant measures when they identify the officials who are defrauding public money in such way, and pointed out that not doing so will lead to a wrong precedent.
Accordingly, the Committee advised the officials to act in a way that the officials do not get the opportunity to commit such frauds again and to take strict disciplinary measures regarding the officials who commit frauds.
Furthermore, there was a discussion at length about the fraudulent lay hold of pension money after the death of the beneficiary in the Gampaha district. Accordingly, it was disclosed in the committee that the 13 Divisional Secretariats in Gampaha district have paid more than 4 crores in rupees to 419 pensioners who were receiving pensions as of 31st December 2023. The audit officers pointed out that these payments were made due to delay in notifying the deceased, failure to temporarily stop the pensions of pensioners who do not provide life certificates, non-adherence to pension circulars and other reasons. Accordingly, the committee advised to identify the irregularities and issues occurring in the payment of pensions and take steps to resolve them promptly.
Furthermore, the committee also discussed regarding the inactive projects in Gampaha district. The audit officers pointed out that due to the fact that the money allocated for various projects in the budget is not used in the correct time periods, problematic situations arise.
Accordingly, the committee chair instructed to send a report to the committee regarding the amount of money spent on the partially completed projects and the needs of the partially completed projects.
Furthermore, the current situation regarding the disappearance of more than 1 million rupees in the safe of the Mahara Divisional Secretariat in 2014 was also examined. The committee questioned the officials regarding the fact that even after 10 years of the irregularity, the money has not yet been collected from the responsible officials. Accordingly, the committee instructed the officials to remind the concerned department regarding the matter and take action to recover the amount lost to the government.
Government officials including State Ministers Hon. Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, Members of Parliament Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya, were present at the Committee meeting held.
2026-06-09
The motion to refer the report containing the findings of the investigations conducted by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) in relation to the Department of Motor Traffic to the Attorney General for observations and any necessary further action was approved by Parliament today (Jun. 09).The report contains the findings of the investigations carried out by COPA regarding the Department of Motor Traffic on 10 and 21 March 2025 during the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. It had previously been presented to Parliament on 25 July 2025 as Parliamentary Series No. 243.In terms of the provisions of Standing Order 119(4) of Parliament, the relevant report had been referred to the Minister of Finance and the subject Minister for their observations and following the tabling of their responses in Parliament, the COPA reconsidered the matters contained in the report on 04 March 2026.During its deliberations, the Committee emphasized the necessity of taking prompt legal action in relation to the financial irregularities and frauds that had been revealed in the Department of Motor Traffic. Accordingly, it was unanimously decided to seek the approval of Parliament to refer the Committee’s report to the Attorney General for necessary legal action.Accordingly, Parliament today approved the motion, “The report bearing Parliamentary Series No. 243, which was tabled in Parliament on 25 July 2025 and contains the findings of the investigations conducted by the COPA on 10 and 21 March 2025 in relation to the Department of Motor Traffic, be referred to the Attorney General for observations and necessary action.”No committee report previously tabled in Parliament has been referred to the Attorney General for observations and further legal action, and marks the first occasion on which a committee report has been referred in this manner.
2026-06-08
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus met in Parliament recently (5th June) to review the progress of investigations and discuss the next steps relating to the case concerning the abuse of a girl in the Anuradhapura area.The meeting was chaired by the Chairperson of the Caucus and Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj. Officials representing the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services and the Sri Lanka Police were invited to attend the meeting.During the meeting, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that all ongoing investigations related to the incident are conducted strictly in accordance with court orders. The Caucus also requested that forensic reports and other medical reports relevant to the case be obtained without delay.As court proceedings concerning the victimized girl are currently being conducted not only in Anuradhapura but also in Attanagalla and Dambulla, the Caucus instructed the National Child Protection Authority to intervene in monitoring those proceedings as well. A request was also made to take measures to minimize the repeated trauma experienced by the victimized girl as a result of her involvement in all three legal proceedings.Furthermore, the Attorney General’s Department expressed its agreement with a request made by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to appear before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court in order to facilitate judicial and legal processes and strengthen coordination among government institutions.The Caucus also informed the Department of Probation and Child Care Services to continue paying close attention to matters relating to the girl’s education, health, and safety.The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus further highlighted the importance of maintaining effective coordination among law enforcement agencies dealing with child abuse cases and agreed to take the necessary interventions in this regard in the future.Moreover, it was decided that guidelines should be developed for media reporting and judicial proceedings relating to child abuse cases in a manner that safeguards the child’s privacy, security, and dignity. A subcommittee functioning under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus will intervene in this process.The subcommittee will also undertake future measures required to address and overcome the legal and practical challenges that arise in child abuse litigation.Members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Hon. Members of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Hasara Liyanage, (Attorney-at-Law) Lakmali Hemachandra and (Attorney-at-Law) Sagarika Athauda attended the meeting. The Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Hon. Members of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Thushari Jayasinghe and (Attorney-at-Law) Anushka Thilakarathne joined the meeting online.
2026-06-05
Discussions Held on Establishing Rebuilding Sri Lanka as a Statutory FundOfficials led by Auditor General (Ms) Samudika Jayaratne briefed the Committee on Public Finance on the progress of the National Audit Office’s Annual Programme for 2026.The briefing took place at a meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on 2nd June, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Nishantha Jayaweera, along with Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Champika Hettiarachchi and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra. The auditing of ‘Samurdhi Banks’ was also discussed during the meeting, and officials informed the Committee that the audits for 2023 and 2024 must be completed in order to conduct the audit for 2025. They noted that the procurement process required to outsource these audits to external parties has not yet been finalized.While initial estimates indicated that approximately 300 officers would be required to carry out the audits, the Auditor General stated that the recruitment of 200 officers over a period of one and a half years would be sufficient. Officials further highlighted the absence of a dedicated audit framework for Samurdhi Banks. In response, the Committee Chair recommended that a comprehensive study be conducted and that a proposed audit framework for Samurdhi Banks and affiliated societies be submitted to the Committee for consideration.The Committee also reviewed matters relating to cyber security. Officials from the National Audit Office stated that the department currently lacks in-house information technology specialists to support audit activities. As a result, system audits are carried out by external auditors.In addition, the Committee discussed the account maintained for the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme. Officials from the National Audit Office informed members that no statutory fund currently exists under the name “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” and the programme operates through an account maintained under the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury. Officials further confirmed that no payments have been made through this account to date.
2026-06-03
The Select Committee of Parliament to review the laws dealing with Elections (excluding laws dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard for the Tenth Parliament, has commenced calling for public proposals and views.This Select Committee is chaired by the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, and consists of 11 Hon. Members of Parliament.Its aspiration is to review the laws dealing with elections more particularly the Registration of Electors Act, the Local Authorities Elections Act, the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act, together with the several amendments made to the said Acts over the years and the Special Provisions Acts made applicable to the provisions of the Acts set out above, to assess the need to revise, amend and consolidate these Acts and to recommend the reform and amendments necessary to the current laws dealing with elections (excluding Provincial Council Election).The public/other interested parties and organizations are invited to submit proposals/views under the relevant scope for consideration by the said Committee, and such proposals/views are requested to be forwarded to the following address or to the email address legis_com@parliament.lk before 15th July 2026.Address:The Secretary to the CommitteeSelect Committee of Parliament to review the laws dealing with Elections (excluding laws dealing with Provincial Council Elections) and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regardParliament of Sri LankaSri Jayawardenepura Kotte
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