2025-10-14
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has instructed the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to establish a formal mechanism for collecting arrears of assessment tax in the city of Colombo.
Officials of the Colombo Municipal Council informed the COPA that under the KOICA project, a data system is expected to be developed to support several functions, including maintaining assessment tax revenue.
Accordingly, COPA instructed the Colombo Municipal Council to hold discussions with the KOICA project and to inform the committee about the progress made in utilizing the new data system being developed to systematically collect assessment tax revenue and to improve the efficiency of tax collection.
These matters were discussed when the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Hon. Kabir Hashim, Member of Parliament, convened on October 8, 2025, to examine the Auditor General’s Reports for the years 2022 and 2023 and the current performance of the Colombo Municipal Council.
During the meeting, COPA inquired from the relevant officials regarding the failure to implement a recommendation made by the Auditor General’s Department to complete, within six months, the collection of arrears in the Fort area of Colombo where the properties had already been identified.
In response, the officials stated that out of the total arrears amounting to Rs. 610.96 million, a sum of Rs. 148 million had already been recovered, and that measures were being taken to recover the remaining amount. However, the COPA Chair instructed the officials to submit a comprehensive report on the plan to systematically recover the outstanding revenue.
Furthermore, the Chair instructed the Colombo Municipal Council to inform the committee regarding the progress of developing a formal data system for collecting other sources of revenue received by the Council and the actions taken regarding properties that could not yet be identified.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed the progress made in implementing the earlier recommendation by COPA regarding the unauthorized occupation of the Elie House land in Modara. COPA noted that following the planned discussion with the Governor regarding the appeal submitted by those occupying the said property, the committee should be informed about the progress in transferring the property back to the Colombo Municipal Council.
However, the officials from the National Audit Office informed the committee that although the occupants had agreed post discussions with the Governor to pay the arrears and fines due for unauthorized occupation, the necessary actions had not yet been taken.
It was also disclosed that although the total extent of the land was 140 perches, only 40 perches had been leased since 1992, and that the lease agreement had expired in 2022. Officials from the National Audit Office further informed the committee of these facts.
Officials from the Colombo Municipal Council explained that as a charitable organization is currently being operated on the said premises, they were in the process of recovering the arrears and fines through mutual agreement, and that steps were being taken to reclaim the remaining 50 perches of land that were being used without a lease agreement.
However, highlighting that such actions could give rise to various complications, the COPA Chair emphasized the importance of carrying out all procedures in accordance with financial and state administrative regulations. Accordingly, the officials were instructed to submit a report detailing the amount of fines due for the remaining portion of the land being used, and they informed the committee that this report could be submitted by the end of December.
Meanwhile, the committee also held an extensive discussion regarding the unauthorized construction of a funeral parlor on the official residence and land of the Borella Cemetery Supervisor, which had been misused. Although COPA had earlier recommended a full investigation and the submission of a report to the committee, the failure to submit the said report was met with the committee’s dissatisfaction.
However, officials informed the committee that the necessary disciplinary and legal actions were being taken, and the relevant procedures were ongoing.
The meeting was attended by committee members including Hon. Deputy Ministers Aravinda Senarath, Dinindu Saman Hennayake, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), along with Members of Parliament (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, J.C. Alawathuwala, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Thushari Jayasinghe Attorney-at-Law, Sunil Rathnasiri, and Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, as well as several state officials.
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.
2025-11-27
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.
2025-11-26
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.
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.
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