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Top management of DMT rapped, clarification on illegal vehicle registration demanded
The top management of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has claimed that they didn’t have relevant information when the Committee of Public Accounts (COPA) recently questioned them regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place, prior to the integration with the Customs computer system.
Having rapped the DMT for failing to address specific concerns raised by the Auditor General with regard to such registrations, COPA declared that they would be called again. They were asked to come prepared, according a statement issued by Parliament yesterday.
The DMT management appeared before COPA on 10 March. MP Aravinda Senarath chaired the meeting, called to discuss the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the Department’s current performance.
During the meeting, the Committee inquired into the implementation of directives issued during previous meetings. In particular, the Auditor General had presented 25 observations regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place prior to the integration with the Customs computer system. The Committee expected a report detailing the investigations conducted on these matters and the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials. However, the Auditor General pointed out that such a report had not been submitted.
Although the officials present claimed that a report had been provided, the Auditor General stated that he had not received it. A copy of the purported report was tabled during the session, but upon examination, the Auditor General informed the Committee that it was entirely unsatisfactory. As a result, the Committee conducted an extensive inquiry into the matter, but the officials failed to provide satisfactory responses. They stated that they did not possess the relevant information dating back.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint proposal presented by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government and the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to hold the State Vesak Festival centered on the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Center Temple, declare May 10 to 16 as Vesak Week in 2025, and organize and implement various Buddhist programs during that period.
It has been decided to conduct the Vesak Festival this year under the theme “Bhajetha Miththe Kalyane- Bhajetha Purisuththame” (Let’s associate with noble friends of good qualities)
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Colombo Municipal Council to establish fully automatic revenue generation system with KOICA funds
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to enter into an accord for the implementation of an automatic revenue generation system for the Colombo Municipal Council using the funds provided by the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
The Colombo Municipal Council generates a significant amount of revenue from assessment tax, license fees, trade tax, and stamp duty.
The Colombo Municipal Council, Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and Department of External Resources collaboratively submitted a concept paper to the Korea International Cooperation Agency to enhance the generation of overall revenue through the automation of the aforementioned four main sources.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has agreed to provide US$ 8.5 million for this purpose and the clearance from the Attorney General and the agreement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism have been obtained for this accord.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to conduct the economic census in 2025 and 2026, with agricultural activities being covered in 2025 and non-agricultural activities in 2026.
[The Department of Census and Statistics conducted its last Economic Census during the years 2013/14]
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