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Lacille poses pertinent questions to Parliament, UNDP

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘Forty MPs skipping DDO vote inexcusable’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Director, Administration of Parliament Lacille de Silva said that both Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) should reveal whether they were satisfied with the progress in the ongoing project funded by the latter to improve the parliamentary system.

De Silva said that parliamentary standards had deteriorated to such an extent over the years that he was amazed by the recent reportage of the UNDP funding a House project to improve the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) system.

Responding to The Island queries, de Silva said that actually members of Parliament, regardless of the party they represented, should have raised the issue. The civil society activist said that he was particularly worried about the failure on the part of the Opposition to seek a clarification from Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Lacille de Silva served as Director, Administration of Parliament, from 2003 to 2013, during his 37-year career. Having retired in

2013, de Silva, in 2015, received appointment as Secretary to the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power. The then President Maithripala Sirisena however sacked him in early March 2016.

Referring to the UNDP arranging former Canadian MP Kevin Deveaux described as an international expert on parliamentary development to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on June 14 at the Parliament premises, de Silva declared that there was no harm working with international partners to improve systems in place. UNDP Resident Representative in Colombo Azusa Kubota accompanied Devaaux. That was followed by Kubota meeting President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat where an assurance was given on the UNDP’s continued assistance, particularly to further improve SOC system. USAID, too, supports some projects implemented by parliament.

A senior House official said that Speaker Abeywardena presides over an advisory board meant to handle all activities assisted by development partners. The former Canadian lawmaker has been here on the invitation of the UNDP to do what the official called the needs assessment in consultation with relevant parties to prepare the parliamentary development action plan in collaboration with all partners. The official added that the current action plan was prepared in consultation with the former Canadian MP during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as the president. Declaring that the Speaker is the final authority, the official emphasized that Parliament didn’t follow anyone’s agenda.

Lacille de Silva asked whether political parties represented in parliament needed any external advice to take remedial measures to overcome shortcomings and negligence. Statements issued by parliament on regular proceedings at watchdog committees exposed the pathetic failure on the part of parliament to address issues at hand. The recent revelation at COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) that the total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by Dec 31, 2022 is Rs. 904 bn underscored the responsibility on the part of Parliament, de Silva said.

“Public finance is the responsibility of Parliament. Therefore, the House cannot absolve itself of the responsibility for allowing accumulation of total arrears to over 904 bn,” de Silva said. “What really worries me is that even after the national economy suffered in early 2020 due to a toxic combination of reasons, those in authority haven’t made a genuine effort to improve revenue collection.”

The debate and vote on the high profile resolution pertaining to the Domestic Debt Optimization (DDO) on July 01 highlighted the crisis in parliament. Referring to accusations directed at Speaker Abeywardena that he arbitrarily conducted the vote at 7.30 pm on Saturday though the original plan was to conduct a two-day debate before the vote, de Silva said that only 184 voted that day.

“Therefore, 41 didn’t vote. If we leave out the Speaker, 40 MPs skipped the vote. This shows, some political parties are in disarray. How come 40 MPs refrained from taking a stand on such a crucial issue,” de Silva said, adding that the bone of contention is whether political parties have no control of its members.

Current Parliament is represented by 15 political parties. Parliament consists of SLPP 145, SJB 54, ITAK 10, JJB 03, EPDP 2, AITC 02 and an MP each represents nine political parties.

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Related Topics:Administration of Parliament Former Director Lacille de Silva

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

News

CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

News

Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.