2024-07-15
News Categories : Committee News
Since land and houses auctioned by many auctioneers have been mortgaged to the banks and given the auctioneers failure to inform the consumer regarding such detail, it was discussed at length how the consumers making purchases of such lands and houses are facing issues. Accordingly, the Committee on Public Accounts drew its attention towards the measures taken by the Local Authorities of the western province to resolve the said issue.
The officials who were present stated that the advertisements regarding auctions are published even prior to obtaining proper approvals. COPA recommended that action be taken in a manner that does not prejudice the consumer and to look for a way forward post discussing with the auctioneers who are legitimately conducting such auctions.
It was also emphasized that action should be taken in accordance with the legal provisions regarding the sale of land and houses or the publication of related advertisements without obtaining prior approval and the confirmation of the legal title to such property by the auctioneer. Accordingly, the Committee instructed the officials present to provide a full report on the matter by August.
This was discussed when COPA met in Parliament recently (July 10) under the Chairmanship of the State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna to look into the progress of the recommendations made during the previous Committee meeting based on the Auditor General's report on Local Authorities of the western province.
Furthermore, the coordination data system for the Local Authorities of the Western Province was also discussed here. Accordingly, COPA instructed to take prompt action in this regard, as daily work can be done more efficiently between the institutions through such Coordinating Data System between the Local Authorities in the Western Province.
The Committee had given recommendations to the local authorities to provide survey reports on the current status and progress of allocating land for public use when land parceling and sale. However, it was made note that the related survey reports are yet to be received.
It was also disclosed that although a contract of Rs. 36 million was entered into in 2015 for the purpose of providing consultancy services for the construction project of the new municipality building, the council has thereafter abandoned the project as the council had no land ownership. Thus, I was disclosed that the consultancy firm has filed a lawsuit for the amount in arrears owed to them. The Committee on Public Accounts emphasized that such problems arise due to the fact that Local Authority bodies enter into projects which are beyond their mandate without any feasibility study at their own discretion. Accordingly, it was emphasized that a policy decision should be taken in this regard.
State Minister Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, Members of Parliament Hon. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghala, Hon Madura Vithanage, Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi and Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake were present at this Committee meeting held.
2026-05-26
The Central Provincial Council was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General’s triennial report for the years 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s report for 2024, and the Council’s current performance.The committee meeting, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, was held recently at Parliament.During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress made in implementing recommendations issued at the COPA meeting held on 5th September, 2019. Discussions focused on the incident involving the destruction of files belonging to the Central Provincial Passenger Transport Authority.It was revealed that directives issued by the relevant court and the Presidential Secretary regarding the incident had not been implemented by the responsible authorities. In this regard, the Committee Chairman instructed officials of the Central Provincial Council to submit all reports and correspondence related to the incident to the committee.In addition, the committee discussed an incident involving the unlawful transfer of a rest house owned by the Road Development Authority to a third party in violation of lease conditions. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed officials to identify the officers responsible for making the relevant decisions and to submit a report to the committee on the legal action being taken in connection with the matter.The committee also held extensive discussions on irregularities identified by the National Audit Office in road development and passenger transport services in the Central Province, as well as issues affecting the health sector.Expressing his views during the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the importance of expediting ongoing investigations within institutions and focusing on follow-up action. He further stressed that if a state institution generates profits, such profits should accrue to the government, and if such revenue is used for institutional activities, established legal provisions and procedures must be strictly followed.The meeting was attended by committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Sunil Rathnasiri, Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, Ajantha Gammeddage, Chanaka Madugoda, T.K. Jayasundara and Lal Premanath along with a group of government officials.
2026-05-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently sought views from the Attorney General’s Department and members of the Election Commission.The discussion took place when the committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Attorney General’s Department briefed the committee on the existing legal obstacles to holding Provincial Council elections and the possible ways in which such obstacles could be removed to facilitate the conduct of the elections.The Election Commission informed the committee that it is prepared to conduct Provincial Council elections at any time under the legal provisions enacted by Parliament based on the committee’s recommendations.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra, Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law and Muneer Mulaffer as well as committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The committee member M. Nizam Kariapper, P.C also participated virtually.
2026-05-25
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the girl involved in the sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.This decision was taken during the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, held in Parliament today (May 25). Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 05.06.2026 with the participation of relevant institutions including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.In addition to the incident, which has generated significant public concern, the discussion is also expected to focus extensively on strengthening the laws and empowering the institutions required to prevent all forms of violence against women and children.Meanwhile, it was also decided to appoint a subcommittee under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to oversee the future legal proceedings relating to the Anuradhapura girl’s case and to identify the institutional and legal reforms required in the country to eliminate violence against women and children.The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Hon. Members of Parliament Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella. The other members of the subcommittee will be Hon. Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-05-25
The progress of implementing the new education reforms was reviewed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi. During the meeting held in Parliament on the 19th, extensive discussions were held on the implementation of the new education reforms.Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, briefed the committee on the manner in which the new education reforms are being implemented.The meeting was attended by Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, committee members, provincial education secretaries, school principals, and several other officials.
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