2025-06-06
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has recommended the appointment of an independent investigation committee to examine all corruption and irregularities prevailing at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Instructions were given to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to appoint the said investigation committee without involving any officials of the current administrative authority and to conduct and complete the relevant investigations as soon as possible.
This was discussed during the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) held on the June 4th at the Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera for the purpose of examining the Auditor General’s report and the current performance of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka for the financial year 2023.
Furthermore, the incident involving Charith Dilshan, a student who committed suicide while studying in his second year at the university, was also discussed extensively in the committee. During this discussion, the Marshal of the university expressing his views regarding the New Year celebrations organized at the university, which allegedly contributed to the incident, stated that he was not informed about the event by the administration. He also stated that approval for the event was granted without following proper procedures. Furthermore, the Marshal also mentioned that he had informed the administration in writing about possible outcomes that could arise in student hostels. Accordingly, the committee chair pointed out that it appears there have been lapses in supervision regarding student activities by the administration. Consequently, the committee instructed ministry officials to conduct an effective and independent investigation into this incident as well.
The committee also discussed an incident where, in 2022, approval was granted for a contractor to excavate 500 cubes of soil free of charge from the university premises upon the request of a local council member of the Imbulpe Pradeshiya Sabha. Although internal approval had been granted by the administration to remove the soil, university officials stated that, upon realizing the mistake, no official approval was subsequently given to the contractor. However, it was revealed during the committee that even though the university’s security division had informed the administration about the removal of soil by the said contractor on 19.10.2022, the university administration had only filed a police complaint regarding the incident in 2024.
The committee also discussed the matter concerning the registration of students for courses at the university. Officials stated that, on average, around 7,000 students who receive university admission yearly do not register in the first round. However, they pointed out that the vacancies are filled after conducting several rounds of registration. Accordingly, the committee chair emphasized the importance of focusing attention on strengthening the state university system.
Furthermore, although over Rs. 123 million had been spent in 2014 for the construction of the university's sports ground and gymnasium, several issues had arisen such as water stagnation on the playground, surface roughness due to erosion of mixed soil, and cracking of side embankments, according to the Auditor General's Department. Based on a previous COPE recommendation, although the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) had renovated the side embankments and gymnasium and handed them over to the university, the Auditor General pointed out that the sports ground had not been properly accepted and maintained by the university. As a result, it was revealed during the committee that students faced significant difficulties in using the playground due to water stagnation and surface roughness.
When questioned about this, the university administration pointed out that due to the physical location of the area, termite mounds appear in places on the playground.
Commenting on this, the committee chair questioned the lack of a designated person responsible for maintaining the sports ground. He also inquired into the fact that, despite the magnitude of the project, no permanent engineer had been appointed for supervision, and instead, a project engineer was used for such duties, which was also highlighted by the Auditor General. In response, the university’s project engineer stated that the responsibility had not been assigned to him by the Vice Chancellor. However, it was revealed in the committee that, at one point, the sports ground maintenance had been handed over to the cleaning division, and at present, it is under the care of the sports division.
It was also disclosed that during the construction of a housing complex for university staff, more than Rs. 2.6 million had been paid to the contractor based on the certification of the project engineer, despite the contractor not having requested the amount.
Additionally, in the construction of the university’s new library building, it was disclosed that the contractor had abandoned the contract work midway, and since the performance bond was not encashed, a loss of more than Rs. 28.8 million had been incurred. Although a surcharge notice had been issued for this loss, it had not yet been recovered.
However, to prevent such situations from recurring, arrangements had been made to recruit a project manager to systematically supervise all construction projects. However, the said individual had resigned after serving for less than four months. The committee extensively discussed that he had resigned due to not receiving the requested service facilities.
Hon. Members of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.K.M. Aslam, Samanmali Gunasingha, Sudath Balagalla, Jagath Manuwarna, Ruwan Mapalagama, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, Thilina Samarakoon, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Dinesh Hemanta, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law were present at this COPE meeting held.
2026-11-14
The financial crisis faced by SriLankan Airlines, frequent flight delays, debt burden and delays in procurement processes for acquiring new aircraft were discussed extensively at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development.These matters were discussed when the Committee met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. S. M. Marikkar, Member of Parliament.During the meeting, concerns were raised over the inadequacy of the airline’s existing fleet of 23 aircraft, which are approximately 12 years old. Technical issues and operational delays arising from the ageing fleet were also discussed. It was pointed out that a technical fault or any other disruption involving a single aircraft could affect the entire flight network due to the limited availability of alternative aircraft.The Committee also focused on the failure of conventional procurement processes previously undertaken to acquire aircraft and the lengthy delays associated with them. It was stated that a special set of procurement guidelines had been prepared for the purchase of aircraft and related equipment, and arrangements were being made to gazette these guidelines. It was further revealed that a dedicated procurement unit had been established at the Ministry level to directly oversee the procurement process.Under the new procurement guidelines, plans are underway to expand the airline’s fleet. It is expected that one new narrow-body aircraft and two wide-body aircraft will be added to the fleet by next June. Officials also stated that increasing the fleet to at least 29 aircraft by 2029 is one of the key targets of the five-year plan.It was explained that several measures had been taken through the General Treasury to improve the financial position of SriLankan Airlines, including the takeover of outstanding bank loans and bond-related debt. Attention was also drawn to reducing aircraft leasing costs, managing fuel expenditure and implementing commercial strategies to increase the airline’s revenue.The impact of the prevailing crisis in the Middle East, rising fuel prices and competition from international airlines on SriLankan Airlines’ operations and revenue was also discussed.Furthermore, it was stated that the committee appointed by the Government to restructure SriLankan Airlines was considering several options, including attracting new investors, establishing a public-private partnership, or retaining the airline under State ownership while bringing its operations to a level where it could cover its costs.Accordingly, the Committee instructed the relevant authorities to submit a comprehensive report to Parliament and the Ministry before November 30, outlining the measures required to bring SriLankan Airlines to a cost-recovery level within the next two to three years.Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Ravindra Bandara, Manjula Suweera Arachchi, Chathura Galappaththi, Dhanushka Ranganath, Jagath Vithana, Shantha Padma Kumara Subasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Geetha Herath also attended the Committee meeting.
2026-11-14
The Committee on Ways and Means held an extensive discussion on Sri Lanka’s tariff policies and the current status of trade agreements. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon. Vijesiri Basnayake, Member of Parliament at Parliament recently.Mr. Somasena Mahadiulwewa, Director General (Acting) of the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, provided a detailed explanation to the Committee on these matters. The discussion focused on the current status of Sri Lanka’s bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and measures to move them forward.The Committee stressed the importance of conducting feasibility studies on trade agreements that are currently under negotiation and taking the necessary steps to ensure that these discussions continue.Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Eranga Weeraratne, and Hon. Members of Parliament Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala, Thilina Samarakoon, Champika Hettiarachchi and Chathura Galappaththi, among others, also participated in the Committee meeting.
2026-11-13
The Prevention of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill received the approval of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.The Bill was considered and approved when the Sectoral Oversight Committee met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Lakmali Hemachandra. The Bill has been presented to give effect to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178, adopted on 24 September 2014, which addresses the prevention and suppression of the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.The Bill was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on 20 October by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.Officials explained to the Committee that legal action could be instituted in Sri Lanka under this Act in cases where an offence has been committed within or outside Sri Lanka by a Sri Lankan citizen or a citizen of another country, provided that the act in question also constitutes an offence under the law of the relevant country.Officials further informed the Committee that engaging in terrorist activities, planning or preparing such activities, participating in them, as well as providing or receiving terrorist training, have been defined as offences under the proposed Act.The officials also emphasized that these legal provisions had not been introduced on an ethnic basis or with the intention of targeting Sri Lankans residing overseas.Following an extensive discussion, the Committee approved the Bill. However, Hon. Member of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan, a member of the Committee, expressed his opposition to the Bill.Hon. Members of Parliament Suranga Rathnayake, Thilina Samarakoon, Wijesiri Basnayake and Sivagnanam Shritharan, among others, attended the Committee meeting. Government officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Ministry of Defence, the Attorney General’s Department and the Legal Draftsman’s Department were also present.
2026-11-13
Salary anomalies arising when teachers are appointed to the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service were discussed at length at a subcommittee appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital.These matters were discussed when the subcommittee met recently under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Sunil Rajapaksa.Representatives of trade unions of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service and officials representing the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development participated in the meeting.Trade union representatives pointed out that one of the main reasons for these salary anomalies was the fact that the transition from the Teachers’ Service to the Principals’ Service was treated as a “new appointment” rather than a promotion.They further noted that the situation was exacerbated by the significant difference in salary increments when teachers in Grade I of the Teachers’ Service are appointed to Grade III of the Principals’ Service.They also pointed out that although an adjustment allowance had been granted to compensate for the salary difference arising from the appointment to the Principals’ Service, a further salary disparity emerges over time. This is because officers do not receive the higher salary increments, they would have been entitled to had they remained in the Teachers’ Service.It was further emphasized that this situation has discouraged senior and experienced teachers serving in Grades I and II-I of the Teachers’ Service from sitting for the Principals’ Service examination and joining the Principals’ Service.The Chairman of the Subcommittee stated that, having considered the matters presented to the Committee, steps would be taken to submit the relevant recommendations to the Salaries and Pensions Commission for Public Officers.In addition, the Subcommittee decided to hold discussions with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the Director General of Establishments to address other issues faced by officers serving in the Principals’ Service.Hon. Members of Parliament Abubakar Athambawa, Sugath Wasantha de Silva and Chanaka Madugoda also attended the meeting.
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
