Ministers to be monitored: New mechanism in the offing

Colombo, Nov 22 (Daily Mirror) - For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

According to the source, it will be a body comprising MPs and experts involved in the evolution and drafting of the policies of the National People’s Power (NPP) ahead of the elections.

The NPP has announced it in its manifesto in the run up to the Presidential election. Each Ministry will come under monitoring and supervision by this body.

“It will also give direction to the Cabinet Ministers in the performance of their duties,” the source said.

The government has already appointed a Cabinet of 22 ministers and 29 deputy ministers. The first Cabinet has already met.

During the time of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, monitoring MPs had been appointed on one occasion to deal with the activities of Cabinet ministers. Yet it was not a formal mechanism.