2025-09-17
News Categories : Committee News
It was disclosed at the recent meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises that due to the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau not properly charging the state royalty, a large amount of money has been lost to the government.
This was disclosed during the Committee’s inquiry into the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2022 and 2023 of the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau and its current performance, under the chairmanship of Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera on 2025.09.12 at Parliament.
It was also disclosed that the Bureau had issued a mining license from December 2023 to September 2024 to a private company for sand removal at the Mukkutoduwawa Estate in Puttalam District belonging to Chilaw Plantations Limited. Although the contractor had removed a sand stock ranging from 36,531 to 45,561 cubic meters, the royalty had been paid only for 1,594 cubic meters, amounting to Rs. 686,464. The Auditor General pointed out this matter, based on the report of the GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd dated 19 December 2024 estimating the sand removed. Accordingly, it was pointed out by the Committee that a royalty of over Rs. 12 million had been lost.
Discussions were also held on the calculation of royalty for stone quarries based on the explosives issued for the quarry. It was pointed out by the Committee that due to the use of explosives in an illegal manner, the actual volume of rock removed could not be calculated, resulting in a large loss of revenue to the government. Even though massive rock excavation takes place from stone quarries in different parts of the country, in reality, only a small revenue is received by the government, as pointed out by the Members of the Committee with examples.
Accordingly, the Committee recommended to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and the officials of the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau that a stronger monitoring mechanism should be established beyond the issuance of mining licenses, and that urgent steps should be taken to amend the Act to overcome existing legal shortcomings.
Attention was also drawn to serious shortcomings in the mechanism of issuing Exploration License (EL) prior to mining. It was revealed that under the prevailing system, many institutions obtaining exploration licenses sell them to other persons at higher prices, without actually carrying out exploration or mining activities. Although data is submitted to the Bureau after exploration, there is a serious issue regarding the accuracy of such data. Since 1993, the Bureau has issued more than 450 exploration licenses, but currently only 43 remain active, as revealed.
Accordingly, it was pointed out that the current system does not ensure a proper scientific and transparent exploration process, and that the Bureau does not have a mechanism to properly monitor the activities after the issuance of exploration licenses. Therefore, instead of ad-hoc solutions, a new mechanism and a strategic plan important for sustainable national development should be prepared, as highlighted.
The Committee also drew attention to the fact that although 9 licenses had been issued to 5 companies registered in Sri Lanka for mineral sand exploration in Mannar Island, those companies had not carried out exploration for 10–13 years. It was revealed that all 5 companies registered in Sri Lanka are managed by one company registered in Australia. As a result, the license holders have reserved these areas for long periods without exploration, limiting opportunities for other local and foreign investors who wish to explore minerals. Due to this, an extent of about 195 square kilometers has been blocked, which was pointed out by the Committee Chairman as an obstacle to the country’s development.
According to the Mines and Minerals Act, mining lands should be rehabilitated after mining. However, attention was drawn to the fact that by 2025 August 11, the Bureau had not implemented rehabilitation works for 3,150 licenses. It was discussed that although a bond (deposit) is obtained at the time of license issuance for rehabilitation, miners tend to consider abandoning the deposit more profitable than rehabilitating the land. However, the officials stated that legal action had been taken against license holders who failed to carry out rehabilitation.
Extended attention was also drawn to the issue of Quartz exports. It was discussed that Clear Quartz is being illegally exported along with Quartz, and that certain insiders within the Bureau appear to be supporting this smuggling. The Committee pointed out that a mechanism should be established to hand over the export of Clear Quartz to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and to allow only other Quartz to be legally exported.
The Committee pointed out that throughout its past history, the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau has not operated with proper planning according to the legal principles of the Act, and that investigations clearly show this. It was further emphasized that this institution, which can perform as a massive national enterprise earning far greater revenue, should act with proper vision and systematic planning. The Committee Chairman also stated that COPE would continuously monitor the progress of the implementation of the recommendations given.
Members of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law, Mujibur Rahman, Chaminda Wijesiri, Dilith Jayaweera, Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga, Jagath Manuwarna, Ruwan Mapalagama, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana and Chandima Hettiaratchi, together with Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Rohitha Uduwawala, Chairman of the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau Saman Jayasinghe and a group of officials, also participated in this Committee meeting.
2026-09-01
The third programme in the “Voice to Policy” dialogue series, organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, is scheduled to be held on September 5 at the Golden Crown Hotel in Kandy for youth in the Kandy District.The programme is being organized with the aim of further promoting the concept of an Open Parliament through the participation of young representatives. It will be held under the leadership of the Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeyasena and Hon. Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. Members of the Caucus, as well as Members of Parliament representing the Kandy District, are also expected to participate in the event. Through this workshop, it is expected to raise awareness among young people, in particular, about parliamentary affairs, the legislative process and the principles of an Open Parliament, while further strengthening the relationship between Parliament and citizens.Young men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 from the Kandy District who wish to participate in the workshop are required to register by completing the relevant form through the following link before 12.00 noon on September 3: https://forms.gle/aVp5UzhLbtPSmVap8Participants are also required to wear clothing without any symbols promoting a political party or political movement.The workshop series is being organized with the sponsorship support of CII (Coalition for Inclusive Impact).
2026-08-25
A special meeting was held yesterday at Parliament to discuss the future work of the Expert Panel appointed to reform Sri Lanka’s electoral system, excluding Provincial Council elections, to make it more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the expectations of the people.The discussion was held under the chairmanship of Hon. Prof. A.H.M.H. Abeyaratne, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, who is also the Chairman of 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.The meeting included extensive discussions on the role of the Expert Panel, the matters that should be reviewed, and how the next stages of the process should be carried out.The Expert Panel is expected to conduct an in-depth review of 31 proposals submitted by the public and various organizations concerning electoral reforms and to make the necessary recommendations. Relevant studies and research conducted by the university community and research institutions will also be taken into consideration during the review process.The Panel has been given a period of two months to conduct this review. During this period, attention will be focused not only on identifying shortcomings in the existing electoral system, but also, where necessary, on making recommendations for establishing a new electoral system and electoral culture with more constructive and positive features.Accordingly, the ultimate objective of the Committee is not merely to introduce several amendments to the existing system. Rather, it is to present Parliament with a report containing the necessary policy and legislative recommendations for a more credible, democratic, and efficient electoral system that is suited to current needs and the expectations of the people.Committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, and Chandima Hettiarachchi also participated in the meeting.
2026-08-25
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) paid special attention to the progress of investigations into financial fraud and disciplinary violations that have occurred within the Department of Posts from 2004 to 2025.This was discussed when COPA met at Parliament recently (Aug. 20), under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, to review the progress made in implementing the recommendations issued by COPA on April 7, 2026, as well as the current performance of the Department of Posts.It was revealed that a new computerized software system has been introduced to streamline the investigation process. The system is being used to update information relating to investigation files and monitor their progress. The Committee stressed the need to expedite investigations by prioritizing significant financial fraud and serious disciplinary violations, rather than spending resources on prolonged investigations into minor incidents.The meeting also discussed the fact that some investigations have remained unresolved for many years, that some individuals facing allegations have disappeared or died, that legal action in certain cases has been delayed, and that the investigation division is experiencing a shortage of human resources.The Committee further emphasized the need to complete investigations and disciplinary proceedings against officers accused of financial fraud within specified timeframes. Instructions were also given to expedite the necessary measures to recover losses from the parties responsible once investigations have been completed.The Committee also focused on the need to further strengthen financial management and internal control mechanisms within the Department of Posts.Meanwhile, the management of overtime payments within the Department of Posts was also discussed. Officials stated that steps are being taken to introduce an Optimum Cadre - the optimal number of employees - based on a work study conducted by the Department of Management Services covering all nine provinces and the Central Mail Exchange. It was noted that fingerprint machines are now being used to accurately verify employee attendance when making overtime payments. Going forward, the Department plans to use this data to further streamline the payment of overtime allowances.The modernization and digitalization of postal services also received the Committee's attention. Discussions covered plans to further expand value-added services such as Speed Post, Cash on Delivery, and International Courier, digitalize postal banking services, and increase the Department of Posts' revenue through the use of new technologies.The Committee also stressed the importance of maintaining sub-post offices in difficult-to-reach areas where they provide essential services to the public, rather than closing them as part of the restructuring of the Department of Posts' network of sub-post offices.The meeting was attended by Committee member and Hon. Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage, as well as Committee members Hon. Members of parliament Chanaka Madugoda, Oshani Umanga, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Manjula Suraweera Arachchi, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Ajanta Gammaddege, Lal Premanath, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Sunil Ratnasiri.
2026-08-24
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection focused on obtaining the views and proposals of the Police Department on measures that could be taken to reduce overcrowding in prisons.At a recent meeting of the committee held at Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika, discussions focused particularly on the Police Department’s procedures from the arrest of suspects in connection with drug-related offences through to the filing of cases, as well as on removing existing legal obstacles affecting these processes.The committee also discussed delays in proceedings relating to drug-related cases, delays in obtaining reports from the Government Analyst, and the resulting increase in the number of suspects being held in remand custody.It was emphasized that, in combating drug-related offences, it is necessary not only to arrest individuals but also to use modern technology to identify and control drug-trafficking networks and the illegal financial transactions associated with them. The need to introduce appropriate regulatory mechanisms to prevent the misuse of digital money-transfer systems operated by telecommunications companies by drug traffickers for illegal financial transactions was also highlighted.The meeting also discussed the need to strengthen community-based rehabilitation programmes as an alternative to imprisoning persons addicted to drugs, increase public participation in crime prevention, and amend existing laws to bring them in line with current requirements.Views were also expressed on the need to establish a modern forensic laboratory within the Police Department in order to expedite criminal investigations. It was pointed out that speeding up the analysis of scientific evidence could accelerate court proceedings and thereby help reduce prison overcrowding.In addition, attention was given to improving the welfare of police officers, enhancing their professional training and investigative skills, and strengthening mechanisms for evaluating police performance.Members of the committee who attended the meeting included Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, M.K.M. Aslam, Dr. Sellathamby Thilakanathan, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Chandana Suriyaarachchi, and Major General (Retired) G.D. Sooriyabandara.Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs D.W.R.B. Seneviratne, Inspector General of Police Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, and a number of senior officers of the Police Department were also present at the meeting.
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