PARLIAMENT

The third report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) presented to Parliament today, the 23rd of 2019 revealed that the total loss endured by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in the year of 2018 amounts to Rs.105 billion.

The COPE report also indicates a loss of Rs. 505,408,042 endured by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and a loss of Rs. 33,622,258 sustained by the Elkaduwa Plantation Limited. Additionally, a loss of Rs. 2,187,367 by the Pali and Buddhist University, a loss of Rs. 3,567,328 by the Postgraduate Institute of Archeology has also been reported in COPE findings.

The committee report further reveals that the financial reports expected to be submitted by the Janatha Estate Development Board and the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority have not yet been submitted to the COPE.

Based on the audit reports submitted by the Auditor General auditing the accounts of 23 government authoritative bodies including Lanka Hospital Corporation PLC, State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka, National Transport Commission, Road Development Authority, State Engineering Corporation, Land Reform Commission, Ceylon Industrial Development Board, Sri Lanka Football Federation, Lanka Electricity (Private) Limited, the aforementioned losses were unveiled. Except above mentioned institutes all other have reported profits according to their submissions.

Since the opening of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) for media coverage on 9th August 2019, it has widened the opportunities for citizens to be involved in facing the current challenges in the economic, political and cultural spheres of Sri Lanka.

Presenting the report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), its Chairman and Hon. Member of Parliament Sunil Handunneththi said that the affairs of the COPE are respected and appreciated and thus the public shows interest on its prerogatives whilst observing how it’s recommendations are executed.‍

The Committee chair further elaborating stated that out of the 08 ministries due to submit their observations regarding the authoritative bodies highlighted through the second report tabled by COPE on January 2019, five are yet to submit their reports despite the requisite of submitting  to the Parliament within eight weeks.

The Chairman requested the Speaker to allow the officials of the Attorney General's Department to observe the proceedings of the Committee on Public Enterprises which are functioning in Parliament to expedite the accountability of those responsible.

Further, he said that it will facilitate taking legal action on the basis of eye witnesses with regards to the irregularities of the institutions at the presence of COPE. The Deputy Speaker agreed to this request and said that he would take appropriate action in consultation with the Speaker.