2025-02-19
News Categories : Committee News
Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) disclosed that a sum of approximately Rs. 188 million has been issued in cheques for the Smart Youth Exhibition and Musical Concert, signed by the former Chairman of the National Youth Services Council on the day before the Presidential Election.
It was further disclosed that the former Chairman had signed these cheques without the approval of the Board of Directors, exerting pressure on officials, and that this took place the day before the 2024 Presidential Election. Accordingly, when questioned by the Committee, officials stated that cheques worth of approximately Rs. 100 million had been received by the Treasury on the eve of the Presidential Election and that the said cheques were issued given the pressure exerted by the former Chairman. They also stated that they were compelled to proceed with the payments upon the recommendation of the former Chairman, who was also the Chief Accounting officer of the National Youth Services Council at the time. Officials stated that failure to comply would have resulted in their transfers. Consequently, the issuance of cheques amounting to approximately Rs. 188 million took place on the evening before the Presidential Election, as further highlighted by the officials.
The COPE Chair, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, pointed out that this was a highly sensitive issue. He stated that the former Chairman of the National Youth Services Council had misappropriated funds by using state officials as pawns. He also emphasized that officials should have the courage to oppose such actions. The COPE Chair urged all public officials to fulfill their assigned responsibilities without being misguided.
During the extensive discussion on this matter, it was pointed out that the then-Director Finance of the National Youth Services Council was present at the ongoing Committee meeting, however has remained silent throughout, making no remarks until the Committee came to an end. Members of COPE expressed their objection to his attempt to remain silent while his subbordinates were presenting statements. The Committee pointed out that such behavior misled the proceedings and stressed the need for disciplinary action against the individual.
It was further decided to summon the former Chairman of the National Youth Services Council before COPE, and to recall the institution for further discussions on the following day (Feb. 20).
The stated disclosures were made at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, held yesterday (18) in Parliament. The session reviewed the Auditor General’s reports for 2022 and 2023 pertaining to the National Youth Services Council and Sri Lanka Youth Services (Private) Ltd., as well as the current operational performance and progress in implementing recommendations from the Committee on Public Enterprises meeting held on November 16th, 2021.
During the Committee meeting held, attention was also drawn to the allocation and expenditure of Rs. 538,080,000 by the National Youth Services Council for events held between the 8-month period of January to August 2024. These included the Smart Youth New Year Festival, National Youth Vesak Festival, National Youth Poson Zone, Jaffna District Youth Conference, 31st Night Youth Celebration, and the Smart Youth Exhibition and Musical Concert. It was disclosed that although Rs. 398 million had been allocated under the Youth Development Program of the Presidential Secretariat, the funds were not released due to deficiencies in the invoices.
Additionally, it was disclosed that, contrary to standard procedures of registering suppliers at the beginning of the year, the former Chairman of the National Youth Services Council had procured supplies from individuals of his choosing rather than through a proper tender process. Moreover, it was disclosed that cheques had been issued without the designated recipient being present, allowing them to be collected by other individuals.
Further concerns were raised regarding the lack of financial discipline within Sri Lanka Youth Services (Private) Ltd. and the failure to conduct internal audits. COPE also focused on the appointment of 25 officers holding permanent positions at the National Youth Services Council to positions within the National Youth Services Cooperative Society under both permanent and temporary carders. The implementation of prior decisions taken by the Committee on Public Enterprises was also examined.
Given the numerous irregularities identified, the Committee recommended that a report be submitted to COPE within a month regarding the necessity of the National Youth Services Council, Sri Lanka Youth Services (Private) Ltd., and the National Youth Services Cooperative Society, along with the other related matters.
Hon. Members of Parliament M.K.M. Aslam, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Sujeewa Dissanayake, ((Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah, Jagath Manuwarna, Ruwan Mapalagama, Sunil Rajapaksha, Darmapriya Wijesinghe, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Thilina Samarakoon, Chandima Hettiarachchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law.
2026-08-21
The second programme in the “Voice to Policy” series of regional dialogue programmes, organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for the Open Parliament Initiative, is scheduled to be held for the youth of Batticaloa District on August 29 at the East Lagoon Hotel in Batticaloa.The organizational arrangements for the programme were discussed at a meeting held recently (Aug. 19) at Parliament under the leadership of the Co-Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Caucus for the Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeyasena and Hon. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.The workshop series is being organized with the aim of further promoting the concept of an Open Parliament through the participation of youth representatives. Members of the Parliamentary Caucus, as well as Members of Parliament representing the Batticaloa District, are expected to participate in the event.The workshops are intended particularly to raise awareness among young people about parliamentary affairs, the legislative process and the principles of an Open Parliament, while further strengthening the relationship between Parliament and citizens.Young people aged 18–35 from Batticaloa District who wish to participate in the workshop are required to complete the relevant registration form via https://forms.gle/aVp5UzhLbtPSmVap8 and register before August 24. The Caucus also informed participants that they should wear clothing without symbols promoting any political party or movement.Members of the Parliamentary Caucus and representatives of CII (Coalition for Inclusive Impact), the development partner providing sponsorship for the workshop series, also participated in the meeting.In addition, a virtual discussion was held during the meeting with representatives of the INTER Pares, focusing on the possibility of obtaining their support for the Caucus’s future activities. Mr. Sanjaya Vignaraja, Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), who contributed to coordinating the discussion, also participated in the meeting.
2026-08-18
The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of one Ministry Secretary and three chairpersons to government statutory boards and institutions.Accordingly, the Committee approved the appointment of Dr. Anil Jasinghe as Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media; Mr. S.A.M. Peiris as Chairman of the Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company (Pvt) Ltd.; Mr. H.M.P. Ratnayake as Chairman of Kurunegala Plantations Limited; and Dr. (Mrs.) W.M.V. Wanasinghe as Chairperson of the National Insurance Trust Fund.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and was attended by the Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, the Hon. Members of Parliament Kumara Jayakody, and Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law.
2026-08-18
The “Voice to Policy” dialogue programme organized for youth in the Gampaha District by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative was held recently (Aug. 16) at Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo. The programme provided an opportunity for young people from the Gampaha District to present their policy proposals directly to Members of Parliament. The programme was conducted as the first in a series of workshops organized by the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, covering all districts of the country with the aim of further promoting the concept of an Open Parliament. The main objective of the programme was to provide young people with an opportunity to directly present their views, concerns and policy proposals to Members of Parliament. Young men and women representing the Gampaha District participated in the workshop. The event was attended by the Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, Hon. Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeysena and Hon. Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, as well as Members of Parliament Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney at Law, S. M. Marikkar, Retired Lieutenant Commander N. R. Prageeth Maduranga, Retired Major General G. D. Suriyabandara and Champika Hettiarachchi.During the programme, young participants presented their views and proposals on a wide range of issues, including education and higher education, political participation, vocational training, employment opportunities, technology, entrepreneurship, and access to opportunities and information available to young people.Particular attention was given to reducing the time required to complete higher education courses and degree programmes, creating greater opportunities for young people who wish to enter politics, and expanding youth entrepreneurship.A key feature of the programme was that the young participants themselves identified their priority concerns, discussed them, grouped them into common areas, and selected fields requiring policy attention before engaging in direct dialogue with Members of Parliament on those issues.The Parliamentary Caucus indicated that it would give consideration to forwarding the proposals presented by the youth during the programme for further consideration by Parliament. Discussions were also held on providing youth representatives with opportunities to engage in the future with the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament on these matters.In addition, Youth Rapporteurs were appointed to document the recommendations and proposals raised during the programme and submit them to the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative.This workshop was organized in collaboration with the CII (Coalition for Inclusive Impact) and sponsored by the NDI (National Democratic Institute).
2026-08-14
The Caucus on Climate Parliament of Sri Lanka emphasized the need to move beyond reactive crisis management and establish Anticipatory Crisis Governance mechanisms to strengthen Sri Lanka’s climate resilience in the face of climate change, including El Niño conditions.At the meeting, held recently in Parliament under the joint chairmanship of Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Hon. Member of Parliament Prof. L.M. Abeywickrema, discussions covered a wide range of issues, including climate change, El Niño conditions, agriculture, water management, wildlife conservation, human-elephant conflict, disaster management and environmental management.Delivering the main expert presentation at the meeting, Prof. Charitha Pattiarachchi, Winthrop Professor of coastal oceanography at the University of Western Australia, highlighted the need for early preparedness in the face of climate risks, science-based policymaking and stronger disaster management mechanisms. The disaster management model of the Indian state of Odisha was also discussed. It was noted that, during a cyclone in 2019, the state was able to evacuate approximately one million people to safe locations within 24 hours.The interim report presented by Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human-Elephant Conflict, pointed out that climate conditions could intensify human-elephant conflict and highlighted the need for short- and long-term measures, including community-based electric fences, seasonal paddy-field fencing, wildlife habitat management and water management.The interim report presented by Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, Chairman of the Independent Expert Advisory Group on El Niño Resilience, analyzed the impacts of climate change on agriculture, biodiversity, water security and the rural economy. The report also proposed a Strategic Climate Resilience Framework based on scientific evidence.With regard to wildlife conservation, attention was drawn to addressing the shortage of veterinary officers, strengthening wildlife management, and reducing environmental damage caused by human activities, plastics and waste in and around national parks. Proposals were also put forward to minimize environmental impacts in sensitive sacred areas, introduce a differential pricing system for the tourism sector, and develop infrastructure in national parks.The meeting also emphasized the need to strengthen science-based policies, institutional coordination and early-preparedness mechanisms in order to enhance Sri Lanka’s resilience to climate change.Members of Parliament, government officials, representatives of international organizations and development partners, researchers, youth representatives and representatives of civil society organizations participated in the meeting.
Handbook of Parliament
The System of Elections in Sri Lanka
How Parliament Works
Business of Parliament
Copyright © The Parliament of Sri Lanka.
All Rights Reserved.
Design & Developed by TekGeeks
