News

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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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

26 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

30 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

37 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]