2025-07-14
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) recently recommended that legal steps be taken to take over the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), which previously belonged to the Mahapola Trust Fund as an institution administered by the Mahapola Trust Fund, citing that its transformation into a fully private entity was carried out unlawfully.
Accordingly, COPE Chair Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera made this recommendation to Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, and the Chairperson of the Mahapola Trust Fund, Former Justice Vijith Malalgoda.
This recommendation was made during the meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises held on the 09th, when Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund was summoned before the committee to examine the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2022 and 2023 and its current performance.
During the meeting, it was extensively discussed that the property transfer based on a Cabinet decision in 2015 carried out with the consent of the Minister at the time was unlawful. It was also noted that SLIIT had paid Rs. 408 million to the Mahapola Trust Fund in this regard, and several Members of Parliament pointed out that it is concerning for an institution originally owned by the Fund to pay such an amount back to the Fund to gain ownership.
The COPE Chair emphasized that those responsible should be duly penalized and that such unlawful and fraudulent actions must be prevented from recurring in the future.
Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, who holds the position “Founder Trustee” of the fund, stated that such fraud will not be allowed to fade into obscurity over time, and assured that further investigations will be conducted accordingly.
A former official who opposed the transfer of ownership at the time informed the committee that the institution, which had begun as a state entity with official representatives on the Board of Directors, was later illegally removed from state oversight due to greed stemming from the realization that it had become a hub of substantial financial movement.
It was also discussed that some parties might attempt to foster a misconception that these investigations could cause the collapse of a university attended by a large number of students. Therefore, the committee emphasized that while SLIIT should continue its current operations, its administration should be returned to the Mahapola Trust Fund. This would, in turn, enable a greater number of students to pursue degree programmes at a more affordable cost.
Attention was also drawn to the previous government's failure to properly fill key internal roles in the Fund, including the Internal Auditor position. COPE highlighted that having an inadequately staffed workforce in an institution that handles such a large amount of funds raises serious concerns about its efficiency.
Discussions also covered the current status of companies administered by the Mahapola Trust Fund, including the National Wealth Corporation (Pvt) Ltd and its subsidiary NatWealth Securities Limited, both of which have been incurring losses. As such, the committee decided that a Commercial Audit should be conducted, and appropriate next steps taken.
Further, attention was drawn to the potential to expand Mahapola Scholarships to a greater number of students eligible for university admission. The Chairperson of the Fund stated that efforts are being made to achieve maximum equity in the use of interest and other income generated from the current capital of approximately Rs. 20 billion.
In addition, the Committee discussed issues including the appointment of Trade Exhibition Officers on a contractual basis for a two-year term in 2023, and a loss of Rs. 750 million to the Fund due to the withdrawal of the selected Online Lottery Operator. The Committee directed that these matters also be subjected to a Commercial Audit and that necessary actions be taken accordingly.
The COPE meeting was attended by Hon. Members of Parliament including Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, S. M. Marikkar, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney at Law, Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Jagath Manuwarna, Ruwan Mapalagama, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Thilina Samarakoon, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, and Dinesh Hemanta.
Also in attendance were Former Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, P.M.B. Athapaththu, and Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, Nalaka Kaluwewe, along with several other officials.
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
2026-06-03
The meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs was held in Parliament under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala.A number of proposals and issues raised by Hon. Members of Parliament relating to police services were discussed, including strengthening police stations, ensuring police representation in District Coordination Committees and curbing illegal sand mining activities in and around Kilinochchi.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and officials of the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, among others.
2026-06-02
The government has allocated Rs. 1,000 million (Rs. 1 billion) this year through the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) to improve paddy drying, storage and other related facilities. The necessary machinery and equipment are scheduled to be installed in the Southern and Northern Provinces, according to Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe.The Minister made these remarks during a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, which he chaired in Parliament.The Committee Chair further stated that a Rs. 500 million project is being implemented this year to provide paddy drying machines to cooperative societies, while a Rs. 100 million project has been launched to procure production and packaging machinery for producer cooperatives.The Minister also noted that the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment has intervened in the process of converting paddy into rice and purchasing potatoes. Potatoes are being purchased at Rs. 220 per kilogram and sold through Lanka Sathosa Ltd.In addition, he stated that 120,000 metric tons of rice were imported during April as substitute varieties for Samba and Keeri Samba rice. Further rice imports will only be considered if deemed necessary.The Committee held extensive discussions on fraud and corruption reported in certain cooperative societies. Members of Parliament raised concerns about individuals involved in such irregularities being reappointed to positions within those societies without facing any penalties. The Minister sought explanations from officials and instructed them to address existing legal weaknesses and other shortcomings without delay.The Minister also announced the establishment of a new Alumni Association of Mahapola Scholarship Recipients and invited all former scholarship holders to join and contribute to its activities. He noted that the association would be able to implement programmes aimed at supporting and advancing future generations of students.The Committee further discussed issues relating to the modernization of the information system of the Department of the Registrar of Companies, measures to improve its efficiency, matters concerning free trade agreements, and other issues relevant to the sector.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana, Hon. Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, several Members of Parliament, and officials representing the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development and its affiliated institutions.
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.
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