2025-08-07
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) disclosed that during the period 2014–2017, an overpayment of Rs. 7,730,262 in excess of the approved fuel limit had been made to the former Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council.
This disclosure was made at the Committee on Public Accounts held recently (Aug. 05) in Parliament, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Aravinda Senarath, to discuss the Auditor General’s Reports of 2022 and 2023 and the current performance of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council.
It was revealed that, according to the 2010 State Expenditure Management Circular, a monthly fuel allowance of 1,700 litres had been approved for three vehicles used by the former Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Province, and a payment of Rs. 9,850,170 had been made since 2014. However, based on a decision of the Board of Ministers of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, an additional 1,500 litres of fuel each month was approved through the Development Design & Machinery Authority and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority. Accordingly, the Machinery Authority had paid Rs. 2,695,000 in 2016 and 2017, while the Provincial Passenger Transport Authority had paid Rs. 5,035,262 from 2014 to 2017. As a result, it was revealed that Rs. 7,730,262 had been paid in excess of the approved fuel limit. Therefore, it was recommended that a report on this matter be submitted to the COPA within a month. The Committee also recommended that steps be taken to recover the excess amount paid.
It was further revealed that the personal secretary of the Governor of the Province had obtained the fuel allowance during the Governor’s absence from the island. It was identified that a sum of Rs. 725,000 had been paid in 2022 in this manner. According to the Presidential Secretariat Circular dated October 12, 2018, there are no provisions to grant a fuel allowance allocated to one individual to another. Hence, the Committee pointed out that this amount should be recovered from the former Governor. The Chair of the Committee also stated that the former Governor will be summoned before COPA in the future.
The Committee also pointed out that issues had been observed regarding the collection of rent on lands owned by the Provincial Council. Therefore, it was recommended that a report including all relevant information be submitted within two months.
In addition, the Committee inquired from officials regarding the non-payment for 1,500 LED solar-powered street lamps claimed to be 90-watt that had been supplied by a supplier in 2024. Officials disclosed that the supplier had actually delivered 30-watt street lamps while claiming them to be 90-watt. Therefore, payment had not been made. Despite being informed to supply the street lamps in accordance with the specified requirements, the supplier had failed to do so and had instead lodged complaints with the Kandy Regional Office of the Human Rights Commission. The Committee observed that a clear act of fraud had been committed in this instance and therefore recommended that an investigation be conducted into the procurement process concerned.
The meeting was attended by Committee Members Hon. Deputy Ministers Nalin Hewage and Sugath Thilakaratne, Hon. Members of Parliament Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Janaka Senarathna, Oshani Umanga, T.K. Jayasundara, Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Chanaka Madugoda, Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law, Manjula Suraweera Arachchi, Dr. Janaka Senarathna, K. Ilankumaran, Sunil Rathnasiri, and Lal Premanath, along with a group of state officials.
2025-11-27
The Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Najith Indika, stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board must take the lead in streamlining the procurement process and easing existing legal barriers related to importing equipment used to test drivers for drug use.These matters were taken up during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection, which met in Parliament on 20th November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. MP (Dr.) Najith Indika.The Committee reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals and special project implementations of the Ministry of Public Security & Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government.Officials from the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau highlighted the difficulties in conducting roadside drug tests due to the lack of necessary equipment.The Committee Chair noted that the government has prioritized eliminating drug abuse and stressed the importance of regulating drivers who operate vehicles under the influence of drugs. He further stated that essential equipment required to identify drug users must be made readily available and that legal barriers affecting their procurement process and importation should be addressed promptly.Police officials also informed the Committee that notable progress has been made in implementing budgeted programmes related to drug prevention. Officials from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board briefed the Committee on the progress achieved under their purview as well.The Committee additionally reviewed the progress of the 2025 budget proposals of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils & Local Government. The Ministry Secretary reported significant progress and noted that many suspended development projects have now resumed.Hon. Members of Parliament G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Dharmapriya Wijesinghe were also present at the committee meeting.
2025-11-27
The appointments of three chairmen of state-owned institutions were approved by the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts yesterday (Nov. 26).Accordingly, the appointments of Dr. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. M.D.C.A. Perera as the Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, and Eng. P.V.A. Hemalal, as the Chairman of Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited, were approved by the Committee on High Posts.The meeting was chaired by Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and a group of members of the committee participated in this meeting.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection recently (Nov. 18) reviewed 12 performance reports and annual reports of institutions functioning under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.The Committee met in Parliament on the 18th under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.Accordingly, the Committee examined the 2022, 2023 and 2024 performance reports of the Registrar’s Office of the Supreme Court, the 2023 and 2024 performance reports of Judges of Supreme Court, the 2022 Annual Report of the Supreme Court Complex Management Board, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.In addition, the Committee reviewed the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Official Languages, the 2020,2021,2022 & 2023 Annual Reports of the Official Languages Commission, the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the National Institute of Language Education and Training, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Department of Prisons, the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund, and the 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports of the Debt Conciliation Board.The Committee also inquired into audit observations related to these institutions, and relevant officials presented their explanations. Attention was also drawn to the current activities of these institutions, as well as existing issues and shortcomings. The Committee Chair informed officials to notify the Committee if amendments to the legal framework governing these institutions were necessary to ensure more efficient service delivery, and assured the Committee’s support in facilitating such changes.Further, regarding the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Community Based Corrections, it was noted that the Auditor General’s report highlighted the incomplete construction of the building for the Legal Aid and Community Correctional Office in Puttalam. The Committee requested a report on this matter.Accordingly, approval of the Committee was granted for all performance and annual reports reviewed, except for the 2023 and 2024 Annual Performance Reports of the Department of Community Based Corrections.Hon. Members of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Major General (Retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara, along with a group of government officials, participated in the Committee meeting.
2025-11-26
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital has examined the operation of private universities in Sri Lanka and the issues relating to their recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC).The matter was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament on 21 November 2025, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage.During the discussion, the Committee Chair highlighted the emergence of institutions awarding degrees of inadequate quality and the resulting harm caused. He noted that many such institutions operate with profit-making as their primary objective rather than providing quality education. The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire process, from student admission to awarding of degrees remains under the supervision of the UGC.The Vice Chair of the UGC, expressing his views, underscored the need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions. He explained that such a body would enable the creation of comprehensive data systems and facilitate links with universities worldwide, allowing access to essential information on institutional standards and programme quality. This, he noted, would help ensure accurate decision-making when granting approval to prospective private universities. These comments were further supported by the Additional Secretary (Non-State Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, and by officials of the UGC.The Committee also focused on issues related to state universities, scholarships offered for foreign degree programmes, and other related matters.Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Keleichelvi, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage (Attorney-at-Law), Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, and Sunil Rajapaksha, along with officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training and the UGC, were present at the discussion.
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