2025-03-14
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) disclosed that the Waiver of Registration (WOR) Certification by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) had been issued through a special mechanism without the approval of the formal committee.
This was disclosed during the recent (Mar. 12) meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) held in Parliament, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera. The meeting was held to review the Auditor General's reports for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and current performance of the NMRA.
During the meeting, extensive discussions took place regarding the intervention of the NMRA in the emergency procurement of medicines. It was disclosed that the WOR certification had been issued through a special pathway, bypassing the formal committee approval process, utilizing a fast-track mechanism. This process has thus allowed the Chief Executive Officer to make unilateral decisions regarding emergency purchases. It was further disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer who held office in 2022 was involved in this special mechanism and that approval for the bulk purchase of medicines was sought during a dinner event held at a prominent hotel in Colombo. However, the doctors representing the Board of Directors opposed this move, and the matter is currently under judicial review in the Supreme Court.
Following discussions at length, COPE decided to call the former Board of Directors of the NMRA holding office during the relevant period before the Committee for further investigation.
Additionally, the COPE highlighted the need to regulate the use of perfumes and creams due to the health issues associated with them. However, it was disclosed that no institution has legal authority in this regard. The officials present pointed out that the necessary legal provisions should be made in this regard and their institution should be given authority. Accordingly, the COPE instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to take the necessary legal steps to provide the NMRA with the required authority.
The committee also discussed the regulation of drug prices. Officials stated that there was no price control unit until 2022, however, a unit was established the same year and drug price comparisons are thus conducted regionally. COPE instructed the officials to remove the existing obstacles related to the drug pricing formula and implement it without delay.
When questioned about the inspection of imported drugs, the officials disclosed that there was an issue with laboratory facilities for testing. Upon inquiry about the NMRA’s financial reserves, the officials stated that there was a reserve of Rs. 7 billion. COPE directed the NMRA to utilize these funds to establish a laboratory for post-import testing of drugs.
Furthermore, COPE instructed the NMRA to promptly address the weaknesses in the existing NMRA Act to facilitate efficient operations.
In addition, the COPE Chair stated that a sub-committee would be established to further investigate the NMRA. The names of the members of this sub-committee will be announced in due course.
The meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament M.K.M. Aslam, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Ruwan Mapalagama, Sunil Rajapaksha, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Thilina Samarakoon, Chandima Hettiarachchi.
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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