PARLIAMENT

• A decision to submit the final report to the Parliament jointly by the COPE and COPA

The Sub-Committee to Scrutinize the Implementation of Recommendations Given by the Committee on Public Accounts, met under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. Tissa Attanayake recently. (Jun. 18)

Since this objective is also applicable to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), its Chairman Member of Parliament Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena also joined this meeting. Member of Parliament Hon. (Major) Pradeep Undugoda, Auditor General Mr. W.P.C Wickramaratne, officials including the Director (Legislative Services) of Parliament Mr. Jayalath Perera also participated in this meeting.

Discussions focused on the report with recommendations that has been drafted so far in relation to follow up on the delay and non-implementation of the recommendations given by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and to prepare a proper mechanism to take relevant measures.

Thus, in addition to referring the COPE and COPA committee's recommendations to the Attorney General as per the decision of the relevant committee, the need to refer the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption or another law enforcement agency was discussed here. It was also pointed out that a specific time frame should be given to those institutions to take measures in this regard.

It was discussed that there is a special mechanism and body for monitoring the implementation of these committee recommendations in countries like Malaysia and India and such a mechanism should be established in this country as well.

Also, the need to avoid disruptions to the activities of the COPE and COPA in the event of the prorogation of Parliament was also discussed. Accordingly, attention was paid to the possibility of adding these two committees to the list of committees that will not be cancelled in case of prorogation.

The chair of the sub-committee said that it is very important for the relevant ministries and institutions to take steps according to the recommendations of the committee to eliminate waste and corruption and manage the public properties correctly. Accordingly, the chair also said that he will meet with the speaker and discuss this matter in the future.

This sub-committee was appointed by the Committee on Public Accounts under the chairmanship of the State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna to find solutions to the issue of not properly implementing certain recommendations given to government institutions over the years.

Hon. Tissa Attanayake pointed out that amendments should be made to the Standing Orders of Parliament and that the final report is expected to be submitted to the Parliament jointly by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) as soon as possible.