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Parliament urged to place its watchdog committees under Opposition members

Published

1 year ago

2024/11/18

Thilina Walpola

Lacille de Silva

‘Responsibility for restoring financial discipline lies with legislature’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Director (Administration) Parliament Lacille de Silva said that the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) could spearhead the National People’s Power government’s overall efforts to restore financial discipline.

The one-time Secretary to the Presidential Anti-corruption Commission said the two watchdog committees under the leadership of suitable Opposition lawmakers would be able to make a big difference if allowed to operate independently. However, their success would entirely depend on the readiness on the part of the NPP to make a difference, de Silva said, alleging that none of the previous governments had made an honest effort to utilize findings made by the two committees.

The civil society activist said so yesterday (17) responding to The Island queries.

The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration had caused further deterioration of financial discipline by placing the COPE under a ruling party MP, de Silva said.

Lacille de Silva served as Director, Administration from 2003 to the end of 2013 before receiving the appointment as Secretary to the Presidential anti-corruption committee. The former official was unceremoniously removed from that position for not following political dictates.

Responding to another query, the ex-House official emphasised that political parties represented in the new parliament scheduled to meet on Thursday (21) should be collectively held responsible for implementing the post-Aragalaya economic recovery plan.

Recalling the declaration of bankruptcy in April 2022, Lacille de Silva pointed out that there had never been an instance of a new parliament meeting in such a difficult situation with the country having to resume repayment of debt in 2028.

The COPE, the PAC and Committee of Public Finance (COPF) could work in unison for the betterment of the system, de Silva said, adding the country was paying a huge price for the collective failure of previous parliaments. Had they fulfilled their primary objectives, namely financial discipline and introducing laws, the country wouldn’t have ended up bankrupt, he said.

Thirteen parties in new parliament consists of 13 political parties and one independent group, namely NPP 159, SJB 40, ITAK 08, NDF 05, SLPP 03, SLMC 03, Sarvajana Balaya (NL), UNP (01), DTNA (01), ACTC (01), ACMC (01), Jaffna Ind. Group 17 (01) and SLLP (01).

Referring to a declaration made by the NPP soon after the presidential election that several high-profile cases would be investigated, de Silva said that the Parliament should take tangible measures to pursue findings and recommendations made by the COPE and the PAC. “We have to keep in mind that the Auditor General is directly involved in the process. Therefore, Parliament should agree on a mechanism to pave the way for the Attorney General and whenever necessary the CIABOC to initiate action,” de Silva said.

The political party system here had collapsed due to corruption at every level, he said, pointing out that the NPP had obviously capitalised on the developing situation. “Corruption coupled with waste, irregularities and mismanagement ruined the national economy,” he said. “We have a long way to go. All of us know, we are not out of the woods yet and the new administration will have to tread cautiously.”

De Silva noted that all political parties, including the NPP, which had only three members in the previous parliament, endorsed the much-debated Economic Transformation Bill. Whatever the promises made during presidential and parliamentary polls campaigns, both the government and Opposition couldn’t sidestep that Act, he said, adding any bid to deviate from the IMF path would be catastrophic.

Commenting on recent media reports, de Silva said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake would retain the finance portfolio, in addition to Defence. According to him, parliament should take appropriate measures through COPE, COPA and COPF and the committee system in place in parliament. He said the real problem was that governments had never taken the watchdog committee system seriously.

The ex-House official said that judicial action against the online visa scam that had been perpetrated by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government proved the power of the COPF. Acting on the disclosure made by COPF, the Opposition had thwarted the online visa scam in spite of having the backing of the powers that be.

The Supreme Court on 26 Sept., remanded Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Illukpitiya till January 22, 2025 pending resumption of the case regarding the online visa scam.Parliament would have to ensure speedy examination of past cases and meaningful measures to prevent fresh corruption cases, de Silva said.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

14 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

18 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.