2025-12-09
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) which met on 03 December 2025, considered several important matters, including the regulations issued under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 05 of 2015, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2452/39 of 04 September 2025, the Annual Work Programme for 2026 of the National Audit Office, and the Final Report prepared under Standing Order 121(5)(ii) on the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2026.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Hon. Member of Parliament.
During the discussion on the NMRA regulations, the Committee recommended enhancing system transparency and visibility in the medicine registration process. Accordingly, the Regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 05 of 2015 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2452/39 was approved by the Committee following consideration.
The Committee also considered the 2026 Annual Work Programme of the National Audit Office. According to the Programme, 3,508 audits will be carried out in 2026. These include 3,484 Financial Audits, 11 Performance Audits, 1 Environmental Audit, 12 Special Audits
As presented, audits of Samurdhi Community-Based Banks and Samurdhi Community-Based Bank Societies have been newly assigned to the Auditor General from 2026 onwards.
The Committee raised concerns regarding the staff capacity required to carry out the Samurdhi audits. The acting Auditor General stated that an additional 10%–15% staff would be required beyond the current cadre. He further informed the Committee that pilot audits are being conducted through regional offices and will continue until the end of February, after which the actual capacity requirements whether through recruitment or outsourcing will be determined.
It was further noted that the annual work Programme will be forwarded to Parliament, as provided for in the Audit Act, which requires that any review or recommendation be submitted to the Speaker and the relevant authorities. Followed by extensive discussion, the Committee agreed to make an observation to the Speaker that it supports the possible outsourcing of the additional Samurdhi-related audit work, subject to the Auditor General’s evaluation. Accordingly, the Committee directed the National Audit Office to do a pilot project and report back to the Committee by the end of February 2026.
In addition, COPF deliberated on the Final Report prepared under Standing Order 121(5)(ii) relating to the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2026. The report reflected the Committee’s observations and recommendations following its review of ministerial budget proposals and financial allocations for the upcoming year.
In extension, the Committee on Public Finance, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Hon. Member of Parliament also conducted a special meeting today, 05th December 2025 to consider the Resolution for the provision of allocations for restoration of the disrupted lives of the people affected by the emergency disaster situation through a supplementary estimate.
This resolves that, an additional sum not exceeding Rupees Fifty Thousand Million (Rs. 50,000,000,000) shall be payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka or any other fund or finances possessed by the Government or any loan obtained by the Government at the discretion of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, for the services of the financial year commencing on January 01, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2025 and the manner that, the said sum may be expended.
Moreover, Regulations under Section 71 of the Value Added Tax Act, No. 14 of 2002 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2460/44 which was also approved following consideration.
Hon. Members of Parliament who are Members of the Committee on Public Finance were present at these Committee meetings held.
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.
2026-08-24
Focus on financial administration, wastewater management, and research allowancesThe Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of the Parliament met recently (Aug. 19) at Parliament, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, to examine the Auditor General’s reports relating to the University of Peradeniya for 2023 and 2024, as well as its current performance. The University of Peradeniya had also been summoned before the COPE on the 5th of this month for discussions on these matters, and the committee met again for a second day as a continuation of those discussions.During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the University’s financial administration, wastewater management, payment of research allowances, institutional governance, and future development plans.Particular attention was given to the University’s wastewater system, including the environmental impact caused by the discharge of wastewater from several student hostels. It was also revealed that, due to delays in the project to connect the University’s wastewater system to the Kandy Municipal Wastewater Project, the original estimated cost had increased from Rs. 464 million to Rs. 1.4 billion. Officials informed the committee that Rs. 2 billion in funding had been obtained through JICA to proceed with the project.The committee also focused on the 68 bank accounts maintained by the University, as well as a large number of accounts associated with various funds. The committee questioned the continued maintenance of certain accounts even after the completion of the projects to which they related, as well as the absence of centralized monitoring of information concerning the funds.Special attention was also given to the payment of research allowances. It was revealed during the discussion that research allowances had been paid to 59 officers belonging to the non-academic and executive staff without approval from the Research Management Committee and without obtaining research reports. It was further stated that, as of 30 June 2023, 28 of those officers had still not submitted the relevant research reports. The committee emphasized that research allowances must be used exclusively for research activities and that research proposals, progress reports, and final reports must be obtained in accordance with the prescribed procedures. While research activities should be encouraged, the committee pointed out that the use of research allowances as an additional salary or remuneration could not be approved under any circumstances.The committee also questioned the existence of positions and the payment of allowances without the approval of the Department of Management Services (DMS). The committee instructed the University to take steps to legally regularize all positions and payments that do not comply with government financial regulations and existing laws and regulations.Meanwhile, COPE emphasized the need for the University’s future development plans to be prepared with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The committee also instructed that development programmes, including wastewater and solid-waste management and the construction of a new clinical block, be implemented expeditiously.The committee further stressed the need to provide specific and direct responses to audit queries, properly disclose financial information relating to all funds and accounts, and promptly implement the recommendations made by the Auditor General.The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, Sunil Rajapaksha, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Dinesh Hemantha, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Thilina Samarakoon, Sudath Balagalla, and retired Lieutenant Commander Prageeth Maduranga.
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