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Financial crisis: President finds fault with Parliament

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Ranil Wickremesinhe

PCs better in managerial efficiency and financial discipline than ministries

By Shamindra Ferdinando

President Ranil Wickremesinhe has found fault with Parliament for the developing financial crisis. He has asserted that one of the major reasons for the crisis was the failure on the part of the Parliament to ensure financial discipline. The President blamed the Parliament for not appropriately exercising its power.

President Wickremesinghe said so at an event held at the Parliament on Tuesday (18), where 65 government institutions with high performance in 2019 and 2020, were presented with Gold and Silver awards. The winners were chosen on the basis of the COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) recommendations.

The COPA, which consists of 31 MPs, is tasked with examining managerial efficiency and financial discipline of the government, its ministries, departments, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities. The watchdog committee reflects the party composition in Parliament and its quorum is four. The current head of COPA is State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanne (SLFP).

Pointing out that the Sri Lanka Parliament was the only one in the whole world with the highest number of committees that dealt with financial matters, President Wickremesinghe said that the Parliament had been tasked with installing financial discipline in the country.

The 2019 Gold award winners are Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Development Finance,the Department of Treasury Operations, the Northern Provincial Department of Industries, the Northern Provincial Department of Motor Traffic, the Northern Provincial Office of the Chief Secretary, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Internal Audit Department, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning), the Finance Commission, the Northern Provincial Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance), the Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning), the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Co-operative Employees Commission, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Personnel & Training) and the Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Engineering)

The 2020 Gold Winners were: PM’s Office, Department of Development Finance, Department of Finance, Department of Public Finance, Central Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance Management), Northern Provincial Chief Ministry – Local Government, Northern Provincial Department of Motor Traffic, Northern Provincial Ministry of Health & Indigenous Medicine, Northern Provincial Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance), Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning), Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Financial Management), North Western Provincial Internal Audit Department, Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Engineering), Southern Provincial Internal Audit Department and Northern Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning)

Not a single Ministry has received a Gold award while only the Finance Ministry received a Silver for both years.

Altogether 15 Gold winners each in 2019 and 2020 whereas 30 Silver awards were given in 2019 and 2020. The COPA assessed the performance of 833 institutions during the selection process, according to Parliament.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide  early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.

Accordingly,

Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of  Passara in the Badulla district.

Level I landslide early warnings  have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale,  Akurana,  Gangawata Korale,  Panvila,  Yatinuwara,  Ganga Ihala Korale,  Doluwa and  Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella,  Bulathkohupitiya,  Yatiyanthota,  Aranayaka,  Kegalle and  Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.

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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

 

The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB  

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Dayasiri

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.

MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.

Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.

The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.

The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:

1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;

2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;

3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;

4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;

5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.

 Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.

It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:

•  Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;

• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;

•  Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;

•  Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.

The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:

1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;

2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;

3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;

4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.

I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”

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