News

Public Accounts Committee tells CMC to have action plans approved in line with annual budget

Published

3 years ago

2022/03/26

Prof. Vitharana addressing the meeting

The Committee on Public Accounts told the Colombo Municipal Council that it has to prepare its action plans in line with the Annual Budget and have them approved at the beginning of every financial year.

Given that the Auditor General’s reports have revealed that a proper action plan for 2020 and 2021 were not approved, the Committee stressed the need to take immediate action to prevent such situations in the future.

These facts were disclosed at the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitarana, examined the Auditor General’s reports for the CMC and the current performance of the Colombo Municipal Council.

J.J. Rathnasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, said that due to the pandemic there were problems in adhere to that practice, which was first introduced by the Treasury in 2020. The committee pointed out that the situation needed to be rectified and an action plan formulated from 2022.

The committee also drew attention to the revenue shortfall of the Municipal Council and said that it would be reconvened at a future date for further discussions. Prof. Vitarana instructed the officials of the Colombo Municipal Council to submit to the Committee data and Statistics on all the revenue, expenditure, deficit revenue and public assistance for the previous years.

State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Dumind Dissanayake, Prasanna Ranaweera, Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, Niroshan Perera, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Hesha Withanage, (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, B.Y.G Ratnasekera, (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya and officials were present at the committee meeting.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

19 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

20 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

21 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.