News
COPE calls for CID probe into irregularities at SL Export Credit Insurance Corp.
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has instructed the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation to obtain CID assistance to investigate the loss of important documents at the institution.
The Committee also recommended the Finance Ministry to appoint an independent committee, consisting of the Ministry’s Internal Auditor, and to submit a report, regarding the financial irregularities of the Corporation, within three weeks.
The Committee also recommended the Ministry of Finance to conduct a separate investigation regarding the actions of the General Manager of the institution and report to the Committee before April 18.The Committee also expressed its absolute displeasure over management and structural irregularities at the Corporation when the Committee was examining the Auditor General’s Reports of the years 2019 and 2020 and the current performance of the institute.
Head of the COPE, Ranjith Bandara said that this was the first time, in a decade, that the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation, which is established to promote and develop international trade and to support and protect exporters, banks, importers and other financial institutions, has appeared before COPE.
The Committee on Public Enterprises highlighted the failure of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation to table Annual Reports and expressed displeasure over the lack of assistance provided to the Auditor General.
The Committee questioned the General Manager of the institution as to why a corporate plan was not prepared for 10 years and on what basis the institution operated in the absence of a corporate plan. Accordingly, the Committee instructed the officials present to take immediate measures to present a corporate plan, as soon as possible.
Moreover, COPE also inquired as to why five main positions of the director board, including director – finance remain vacant. While strongly condemning the actions of the General Manager in steering the institution, COPE emphasized that the neglect and inaction of the respective officials have resulted in the failure of reaching the set objectives of the institution. Therefore, the COPE chair recommended that the board vacancies be filled with immediate effect to ensure stability and proper institutional mechanism.
The COPE chair also criticized the Corporation for not being accountable to the Parliament, to the Auditor General and the Committee on Public Enterprises.COPE also noted that a number of documents have been misplaced and that this was a serious development.
State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Lohan Ratwatte, Indika Anuruddha Herath, Members of Parliament, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Eran Wickramaratne, Nimal Lanza, S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Chaminda Wijesiri, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, M. Rameshwaran, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Madhura Withanage, were present at the Committee meeting held.
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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