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COPE: 47 individuals obtained loans worth Rs. 68 million from SMIB by producing forged documents in 201

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In 2017, 47 people obtained Rs. 68 million worth of loans from the State Mortgage & Investment Bank by using forged documents, the Parliamentary Watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises has found.

This was revealed during the COPE meeting held on Wednesday (23), chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath, to look into the Auditor General’s reports and current performance of the State Mortgage and Investment Bank for the financial years 2017 and 2018.

Bank officials told COPE that cases had been filed against those responsible and that the CID was conducting investigations. Disciplinary inquiries against the staff involved in such forgeries were being held, the officials further said.

The officials also said that action had been taken to recover those loans, especially after the appointment of the new Chairman and the Board of Directors.

Accordingly, the COPE Chairman instructed the officials present to expedite their recovery process.

COPE members were of the view that the amount of loans provided for industries and agriculture should be increased. Officials who were present at the COPE meeting said that loans were already being given to small businesses.

The current vacancies at the bank were also discussed. Officials said that steps had already been taken to fill several vacancies in the executive ranks. If remuneration for those posts was not sufficient, the COPE Chairman instructed to make the necessary amendments to increase salaries.

There was also a discussion on the State Mortgage & Investment Bank operating from a building which had been leased for about 30 years.

Public Security Minister (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, State Minister Indika Anuruddha, and Members of Parliament (Dr.) Susil Premajayantha, Eran Wickramaratne, (Dr.) Harsha de Silva and Madhura Withanage were present at the meeting held at the parliamentary complex.



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Cabinet nod for MOU between Sri Lanka and Romania on the cooperation in the Labour Field

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Romania, a country that has maintained diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka for several decades in various fields, has become an increasingly popular destination among Sri Lankan skilled and semi-skilled Labour categories, especially in the fields of construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and services sectors.

At present, the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers to Romania is carried out by licensed private employment agencies under the
supervision of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau. However, since both parties have recognized the need of establishing a more organized and sustainable recruitment method due to increasing  demand, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of Romania regarding cooperation in the field of the labour sector with the following objectives.

• Establishment of proper mechanism for recruitment and management of workers.
• Promotion of ethical and transparent recruitment practices.
• Protection of rights and welfare of the migrant workers.
• Facilitation of regular discussions between the formal and relevant authorities ofboth countries.
• Improvement of technical cooperation, skills recognition, and capacity building in the labour sector.

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New circular to replace Management Services Circular No. 01/2019

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by  the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Planning, and Economic Development to repeal Management Services Circular No. 01/2019 , dated 15-03-2019, issued regarding the implementation of development projects, and to issue a new management services circular including updated provisions instead.

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Four Chief Prelates urge President to appoint NAO official as Auditor General

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Anura Kumara

Chief Prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, in a joint letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has expressed concern over the protracted delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General.

The Chief Prelates have said that the appointment of an outsider as the Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in public finances will be inappropriate.

The Chief Prelates have said that they are of the view that Dharmapala Gammanpila, a senior officer with extensive experience within the Auditor General’s Department, is the ideal candidate for the top post. They have also emphasised that his appointment will strengthen the government’s efforts to promote economic prosperity.

Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.

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