• No action whatsoever has been taken on recommendations of parliamentary oversight committees to date

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

For the first time in Parliamentary history of Sri Lanka, party leaders have agreed to refer the recommendations of the parliamentary oversight committees, Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Finance (COPF) to the Attorney General, Chief Opposition Whip, former Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. ..

Minister Kiriella told Daily Mirror yesterday that he proposed the move to the party leaders’ meeting and they accepted.   

”No action whatsoever has been taken on recommendations of parliamentary oversight committees to date. After the passage of the committee reports, the reports go to the Parliamentary library and public officials and top management of state-owned enterprises get away scot-free for their financial misappropriations, embezzling, waste and other misdeeds. Only the politician gets the blame for all the wrongdoings at SOEs and public establishments,” Mr. Kiriella said.   

The purpose of referring the COPE and COPF reports to the AG was to take necessary action against officials who have been found guilty at oversight committee inquiries, he said.   

Prof. Charitha Herath heads the COPE and former Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa heads the COPF. 

• Prof. Charitha Herath heads the COPE and former Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa heads the COPF