2023-01-12
News Categories : Committee News
It was revealed at the Committee on Public Finance held recently (Jan. 10) that a problematic situation has arisen due to the refusal of Samurdhi officials to collect data to prepare a social welfare register, identifying those who deserve benefits with transparency.
This was revealed when the orders of the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2302/23 published under the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002 were taken into consideration at the Committee of Public Finance under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Harsha De Silva.
It was further revealed that it is a proposal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to carry out the activities transparently without corruption in the payment of Samurdhi and welfare benefits and accordingly the responsibility for this is assigned to the Welfare Benefits Board. Thus, the orders were published in this gazette for the necessary arrangements for the data collection process.
Accordingly, the Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board Mr. B. Wijeratne said that Trade unions of Samurdhi Department officers, Grama Niladhari’s and Economic Development officers have informed that they would not carry out the next phase of this programme until measures are taken to amend the section 21 and 22 of the Welfare Benefits Act as even their employment could be lost in the event if the applicants would not reveal their information truly and correctly at the enumeration.
He pointed out that the officers who enter false data are also subject to punishment by this section 21 and 22, thus they have refused to collect this data until those sections are amended.
Acceptance of initial applications to identify suitable individuals/families for receiving welfare benefit payments had recently ended. The Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board said that mobile application was also introduced to collect secondary data by visiting the houses of the applicants who have applied for welfare benefits.
It was discussed in the committee that nearly 40% of Samurdhi beneficiaries are unsuitable people, as revealed in a World Bank survey. Accordingly, it was discussed that there are some corrupt officials who issue Samurdhi allowance to unfit people and get a percentage of it. It was emphasized in the committee that it is essential to prepare a register with the correct data in order to carry out these welfare benefit payments with transparency.
The committee also recommended that the National Identity Card should be made mandatory in the payment of welfare benefits. The committee pointed out that it is not acceptable that every citizen cannot be given a national identity card in a background where technology is so advanced and it will be an important decision to stop fraudulent activities.
Thus, the committee emphasized the need to solve this problem as soon as possible to create a culture, free from corruption and fraud, as the delay in preparing this register may lead to delay in obtaining the assistance of the International Monetary Fund. (IMF)
Accordingly, the committee which gave approval for this gazette advised the higher officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board to discuss the matter urgently and arrive at a solution. Also, the committee recommended to take decisions related to carrying out these data collection activities promptly by following an alternative method.
Also, Hon. (Dr.) Harshada Silva, instructed the relevant parties to report the progress to the Committee within two weeks.
State Minister Hon. (Dr) Suren Raghavan, Members of Parliament Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Hon. Chandima Weerakkodi, Hon. Sahan Pradeep Withana and Hon. Madhura Withanage were also present at this occasion.
2025-11-18
Attention of the Committee on Ways & Means was drawn to the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme, its procedures, and related operational issues. This took place when the Committee met in Parliament on 12.11.2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake. During this meeting, officials of the Welfare Benefits Board briefed the Committee on the manner in which the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme is currently being implemented. The Committee also held an extensive discussion on the criteria used for selecting individuals eligible for the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme. Members of the Committee pointed out to the officials that several issues had arisen in identifying the most appropriate beneficiaries through these criteria. The Committee noted that since individuals are selected under 22 criteria, there should be a change in the mechanism used to implement these criteria. It was further highlighted by the Committee that, at present, individuals are allowed to register only for the purpose of receiving benefits, but what is required is that all individuals in the entire country should enter all their information into a single system (a Social Registry). Once registered in this way, their precise needs can be identified and necessary measures can then be taken to cater to those needs. The Committee also held an extensive discussion regarding the possibility of delivering welfare benefits directly to the homes of senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Officials further informed the Committee that although some individuals are eligible for benefits, they are unable to receive them due to not possessing a National Identity Card. Accordingly, the Committee emphasized the importance of verifying their identities and ensuring that they receive the intended welfare benefits. Hon. Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha, Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe, and Nishantha Jayaweera and Hon. Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Sujeewa Senasinghe, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Rohana Bandara, Chathura Galappaththi, and Thilina Samarakoon and a group of officials, participated in this meeting.
2025-11-17
The progress of drafting the National Higher Education Policy was discussed at the Subcommittee on Higher Education, appointed under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training. This discussion took place at the meeting of the Subcommittee held in Parliament on the Nov. 11th, chaired by Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathne. At this meeting, Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, presented her views to the committee regarding the prepared draft and the current progress, noting that the draft document is expected to be completed by the end of November. A follow-up review was also conducted on the matters discussed at the previous committee meeting, including the review of approved university staff structures, the admission of students with disabilities to universities, and improving the quality of external degree programmes. Hon. Members of Parliament and a group of officials, including Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, participated in this meeting.
2025-11-15
The contractor has claimed Rs. 4,227 million as compensation due to the entire project being delayed by 548 days – COPE disclose Attention of the Committee drawn to the acquisition and disposal of all lands belonging to the Port Authority Extended discussions were held at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) regarding the delay in construction activities of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port and the circumstances that arose due to the delay of the entire project. These discussions took place at the meeting held on the Nov. 13th in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, Chair of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), in order to examine the Auditor General’s Reports for the years 2022 and 2023 and the current performance of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority was summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on the 10th of September and the Auditor General’s Reports of 2022 and 2023 and the current performance were examined, and the matters that could not be discussed on that day were taken up for discussion at the Committee meeting held on this day. The Committee pointed out that Cabinet approval had been granted in November 2021 to award a contract worth Rs. 40,273 million to an institution for the development activities of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port. Agreements regarding this had been signed in December 2021, and the construction activities were scheduled to be completed by 03 January 2025. However, due to several reasons, the construction activities were delayed, and it was revealed that after extending the time period, these activities are now scheduled to be completed in July 2026. The Committee pointed out that due to the delay of 548 days, the contractor has claimed Rs. 4,227 million as compensation, and the Chair of the Committee instructed that a report containing all relevant particulars be submitted to the Committee. Officials present pointed out that development activities are currently being carried out very rapidly and that the work will be completed soon. Attention of the Committee was also drawn to the food expenses of the employees of the Authority, and the Committee noted that the recommendations given by COPE in 2023 had not been implemented. Accordingly, the officials stated that measures have now been taken to reduce expenses and that a competitive tender procedure has been introduced to minimize costs. Drawing attention to the taking over and eviction of all lands belonging to the Ports Authority, the Chair of the Committee emphasized that legal action should be taken regarding the lands for which the courts have issued orders to evict or recover. Officials stated that necessary steps have already been taken in this regard. Attention was also drawn to the change of the name of the Seeduwa Raddolugama Sports Club to Sri Lanka Ports Authority Sports Club, as well as the recruitment of players attached to that sports club as employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Hon. Members of Parliament, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, S.M. Marikkar, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney at Law, MKM Aslam, (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah, Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga, Thilina Samarakoon, Samanmali Gunasingha, Sunil Rajapaksha, Chandima Hettiarachchi, and Dinesh Hemanta participated in this meeting.
2025-11-15
The Sectoral Oversight Committee meets for two days to review the fiscal and physical progress of the 2025 budget proposals of several ministries The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has proposed to the Ministry of Environment that it should take the initiative to produce an environmentally friendly paper bag that can be used as an alternative to polythene (sili sili) bags. This proposal was presented by the Committee during its discussion to impose a charge for sili sili bags when purchasing goods. The Chair of the Committee inquired from the officials present whether it should be examined if such measures would actually reduce the use of polythene. The Chair also questioned the officials as to which party had decided the amount to be charged for these bags. The officials pointed out that the gazette notification does not specify that a fee should be charged for sili sili bags. The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability met in Parliament on the 10th and 12th of November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy. At this meeting, discussions were held on the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources and Marine Resources, and the Ministry of Environment. Several annual reports and performance reports of a number of institutions were also reviewed and subsequently approved. Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and Hon. Members of Parliament Gnanamuththu Srineshan, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Kitnan Selvaraj, Bhagya Sri Herath, Attorney at Law, Chithral Fernando, Attorney at Law, J.C. Alawathuwala, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney at Law, and Upul Kithsiri also participated in this Committee meeting.
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