News

Dinesh admits Parliament yet to address longstanding issue

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/26

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dereliction of duty in public sector:

Auditor General suggests remedial measures to punish culprits

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Auditor General W. P. C. Wickramaratne says the National Audit Act and the Standing Orders 120 and 121 of the Parliament should be amended to curb waste, corruption and irregularities in the public sector.

Wickramaratne emphasised the urgent need to address the issue at hand as the country experienced the worst-ever post-independence economic downturn.

Wickramaratne said that he had recently discussed ways and means of addressing the issue with the chairmen of the two parliamentary watchdog committees, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) headed by Prof. Charitha Herath and Prof. Tissa Vitharana, respectively.

The AG said so when The Island sought his response to Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena’s recent admission in Parliament that recommendations made by the watchdog committees as well as the Committee on Public Petitions hadn’t been carried out by officials. The Education Minister, who is also the leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), blamed the crisis on the inadequacy of constitutional and legal powers in place.

Minister Gunawardena acknowledged that in spite of the issue at hand being raised in Parliament on many occasions, it hadn’t been addressed. He said so when some members of the Committee on Public Petitions complained about the failure on the part of the officials to carry out specific recommendations.

AG Wickramaratne said that his Department could take action in that regard if the watchdog committees made specific recommendations in respect of the surcharge. However, both the National Audit Act and Standing Orders 120 and 121 should be amended to provide the required authority to the Auditor General, Wickramaratne said.

Responding to another query, AG Wickramaratne stressed that the Secretaries to the Ministries in their capacity as the Chief Accounting Officers were responsible for implementing the recommendations made by the watchdog committees. The watchdog committees summoned state sector enterprises on the basis of reports prepared by competent officers of the AG’s Department, Wickramaratne said.

“We, too, participate in the proceedings chaired by Chairmen of the watchdog committees. Therefore, the findings cannot be disputed by any party. What the watchdog committees regularly issue is information that can be the basis for legal proceedings,” the Auditor General said.

Wickramaratne received the appointment as the AG in April 2019. According to Wickramaratne, the AG’s Department could impose surcharge on Local Government authorities therefore it would be quite important to expand the scope of their authority. The AG reiterated his concerns over their failure to secure parliamentary approval for the National Audit Bill in its original form.

The Parliament passed the National Audit Bill with amendments in early July 2018. Unfortunately, the provisions relating to the proposed surcharge et al had been deleted in spite of determined efforts made by the AG’s Department during the tenure of Gamini Wijesinha to have the Bill enacted in its original form.

Wickramaratne emphasised the urgent need to strengthen the state sector revenue collection process while tough measures were taken in respect of those who caused losses to the State.

He explained how the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in Oct 2020 further weakened the overall state auditing process much to the dismay of his department. The forthright official called for enhancement of revenue collection measures, consolidation of state revenue and necessary amendments to face the daunting economic challenges.

Making reference to COPA reports based on AG’s Department findings, Wickramaratne said that it wouldn’t be too hard to recognize the longstanding shortcomings and the lapses. COPA Chairman Prof. Vitharana explained the far reaching changes required to streamline the Customs, the Inland Revenue and the Exercise Departments key institutions responsible for state revenue collection.

Minister Gunawardena has told members of the Committee on Public Accounts that they should look into the matter as successive Parliaments failed to take remedial measures. The Colombo District lawmaker said that they had discussed this matter with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and his intervention was being sought to address the issue.

A statement issued by Minister Gunawardena’s Office, quoted the Chief Government Whip as having told members of the Committee on Public Petitions: “The issue raised by you has been raised, discussed and deliberated in every parliament though remedial measures weren’t taken. This issue is connected to the Constitution. We expect public servants to implement relevant recommendations in terms of the powers exercised by them. It should be done. If public servants leave without reaching consensus what can be done.”

MP Charitha Herath on a number of occasions told The Island of the need to take punitive measures against those who deprived the government of revenue. The SLPP National List MP said that the national economy was in such bad shape that urgent measures were required to stabilize the economy badly hit by the Covid-19 eruption.

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Sun directly overhead Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon today (11)

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/11

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11th) are Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition NCM against Energy Minister defeated

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

A no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 104 votes.At the end of the debate, 49 members voted in favour of the motion, while 153 voted against it.

The motion, submitted to the Speaker on 19 March, was signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs, and other Opposition members.

It accused Minister Jayakody of failing to ensure the procurement of adequate and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, alleging that such negligence amounted to a breach of ministerial responsibility over a critical national energy asset.

The motion also cited ongoing legal proceedings against the Minister, noting that he has been indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and produced before the Colombo High Court under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, in connection with alleged acts of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The motion read: Vote of No Confidence against Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy,— Whereas the Provision in Section 6 of the Part III of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament which states that: “The Members shall on all occasions act in accordance with the public trust entrusted with them and shall always behave with probity and integrity, including the use by them of any public resources.” has been violated; And whereas the following rules of conduct set out in Section 9 of the Part V of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament have prima facie been breached, namely:- “(a) to be conscience; (c) to act so as to merit the trust and respect of the people; (e) to hold themselves accountable for the conduct and duties for which they are responsible;” And whereas it is observed that the Minister has failed, in his capacity as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, to discharge the fundamental duties incumbent upon him in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution;

And whereas it is established that the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty of ensuring the procurement of adequate and good quality coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant;

And whereas such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of ministerial responsibility;

And whereas the Minister of Energy has failed to carry out the subjects and functions vested in him by the Notification of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/08 of 25th November 2024 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, including taking necessary steps to reduce the losses at the institutional management level and technical damages that occur to the electricity generation and distribution system and reduction of costs for generating electricity and removal of uncertainties during generation;

And whereas the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed formal indictments before the Colombo High Court against the incumbent Minister of Energy under Section 70 of the Bribery Act (Chapter 26) for the offence of “corruption” in connection with acts of corruption allegedly committed while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertilizer Company;

And whereas, in light of the foregoing, the Minister of Energy has irretrievably forfeited the confidence of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka by causing losses to public finances, endangering national energy security, corruptly mishandling the procurement process, being subjected to active judicial proceedings for the offence of “corruption”, and betraying the Government’s own “anti-corruption mandate”, and his continued tenure as the Minister of Energy is contrary to the public interest, the rule of law, and the principles of good governance;

That this Parliament resolves that it has no confidence in the competence of Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy to function as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers any longer.”

by Saman Indrajith

News

Chinese Ambassador assures Lanka China will not allow a fuel crisis to develop here

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday assured that China would not allow a fuel crisis to arise in Sri Lanka, under any circumstances, reaffirming Beijing’s continued support to the country.

The Ambassador made these remarks addressing the media after attending a dry ration distribution programme for 350 low-income families at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, at Asgiriya, in Kandy.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Ambassador Qi said China has consistently stood by Sri Lanka and remains ready to extend assistance whenever required.

Amid concerns over global energy disruptions, stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, he noted that several countries are already facing difficulties, but stressed that China is prepared to support Sri Lanka at any time.

He said that any potential fuel shortage in Sri Lanka could be managed with the involvement of China’s Sinopec.

Reiterating Beijing’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development, the Envoy also expressed hope that the current ceasefire in the Middle East would hold, while assuring that China stands ready to respond to any future developments and assist Sri Lanka as needed.

By SK Samaranayake