2024-05-10
News Categories : Committee News
Many administrative weaknesses and irregularities in the University of Sabaragamuwa were revealed at COPE. Accordingly, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education was recommended to investigate these irregularities and prepare a report promptly and present it to the COPE. COPE further pointed out that following this report, it will be handed over to the CID to start investigations.
Particular pertaining to the said was revealed when the Committee on Public Enterprises met in Parliament recently (May 08) under the chairmanship of Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardana, Member of Parliament.
Prior to the discussion regarding the University of Sabaragamuwa, attention of the Committee was directed towards the 5 newly established medical faculties. Accordingly, it was disclosed that the functioning of the 4 faculties of medicine is at a good level and the said university pointed out that the facilities of the Kalutara hospital are adequate for the clinical activities of the students of the faculty of medicine attached to the University of Moratuwa.
It has been proposed to use the Neville Fernando Hospital for this purpose, but the officials who were present pointed out that there is a financial problem regarding the acquisition of this hospital. Thus, the Committee recommended that a quick decision be taken within two weeks after holding a discussion with the intervention of the President's Secretary, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the relevant ministry officials.
Thereafter, discussion regarding the University of Sabaragamuwa and the progress of the implementation of the orders and recommendations issued by the Committee on Public Enterprises held on November 09th, 2023 was reviewed.
Thus, in the year 2007, to construct the administrative building, Rs. 1,494,543 was borne as initial expenses, but COPE also drew attention to the fact that the construction had not begun. The officials present mentioned that the report prepared by the former Secretary to the Ministry of Education was given to the Auditor General and COPE a few days ago with the signature of the new Secretary. However, although it was recommended to give it within a month with time extended until February 09, 2024, the Committee expressed its displeasure that it took about 6 months to submit this report.
Moreover, the Committee paid attention to the condition of the university playground when it was summoned before COPE in November. COPE has at a previous meeting inquired about the retention of water in the playground, the rough surface due to the application of gravel mixed soil and the bursting of the embankment. According to the said, officials present pointed out that the existing issues have been fixed and completed.
Furthermore, attention was paid to the provision of an advance bond of 72,461,830 rupees while the contractors had defaulted on the construction of the new library building with a contract value of 315,051,433 rupees. Accordingly, COPE recommended that an investigation be conducted under the leadership of the Secretary to the Ministry of Education in this regard.
Irregularities in the purchase of books was also disclosed. Furthermore, many administrative weaknesses and irregularities of this university were discussed and the committee made recommendations to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education to investigate all such matters and prepare a report to be submitted it to this Committee. COPE further stated that following this report, it will be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department to start investigations.
Government officials, State Ministers Hon. Indika Anuruddha, Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura, Members of Parliament Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, and Hon. Madhura Withanage were present at this committee meeting held.
2025-07-28
The recommendations of the Committee on High Posts, which met on the July 24th at Parliament approved the appointments of 5 new Ambassadors, a High Commissioner, and a Secretary to the Ministry. Accordingly, Miss. Sumadhurika Sashikala Premawardhane as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. C.A. Chaminda Inoka Colonne as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Mohamed Rizvi Hassen as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Maldives, Mr. L.R.M.N.P.G.B. Kadurugamuwa as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Turkey, Mrs. Ruwanthi Delpitiya as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, and Mr. Marimuththu K. Pathmanaathan as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of South Korea have been recomended by the Committee on High Posts. Furthermore, the name of Miss. Ayesha Jinasena (PC) has also been recommended by the Committee on High Posts for the appointment as the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. The Committee on High Posts, chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, comprised of the following Members of Parliament: Hon. Kumara Jayakody, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, and Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC.
2025-07-28
A working Committee was appointed pertaining to the future activities of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, established for the Tenth Parliament. The purpose of this working Committee is to implement the programmes expected to be carried out by the Caucus for the advancement of the arts and cultural sectors of the country and to obtain ideas and proposals from experts and scholars in the respective fields for that purpose. Hon. Members of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dinesh Hemantha were appointed as members of this Committee. These appointments were made during the meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, held recently (Jul. 22) in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Jagath Manuwarna, Chair of the Caucus. At this meeting, lengthy discussions were held regarding the steps that could be taken to uplift the cultural, literary, and arts sectors of the country, to promote the development of artists and professionals engaged in those fields, and on the necessity of fostering an interest among the general public and children in art appreciation. It was also proposed by the Member MPs that programmes should be initiated to create awareness among Members of Parliament and the parliamentary staff regarding the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs. Hon. Members of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dinesh Hemantha were present at this Committee meeting held.
2025-07-28
The proposed Education Reform Plan was taken into discussion at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital. The discussions were held when the Committee met on the Jul. 25th at Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Hesha Withanage, Member of Parliament. Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, representatives of the National Education Commission, the Director General of the National Institute of Education, along with several other senior officials of the Ministry of Education, participated in this meeting. The Ministry officials explained in detail to the Committee the steps taken to prepare the proposed Education Reform Plan and also presented the steps taken in the past in this regard. The Chair of the Committee stated that experts from relevant sectors who have been involved in reforming the education sector in the past are expected to be consulted to examine the proposed Education Reform Plan more comprehensively. He further stated that the full support of the Committee will be extended to ensure the proper implementation of the Education Reform Plan. Committee Members also emphasized the need for properly structuring the syllabus when implementing reforms in the education sector and pointed out the factors that should be considered in that regard. Meanwhile, the attention of the Sectoral Oversight Committee was also drawn to the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill. The Committee inquired into the operations of the Samurdhi Bank, and the relevant approval was granted to present the said Bill to Parliament for the Second Reading. Hon. Members of Parliament Sunil Rajapaksha, Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney at Law, and Krishnan Kalaichelvi participated in this Committee meeting.
2025-07-28
No shortage of very essential medical items – Ministry of Health officials The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment inquired into the medicine shortage and related matters at the Committee meeting held recently (Jul. 23), under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe. Officials from the Ministry of Health informed the Committee that the current shortage of medicines has arisen due to delays in placing orders in previous years. However, they assured the Committee that procurement process for the year 2026 has already taken commenced, and there will be no shortage in 2026. They further stated that by the end of this year, 80% to 90% of essential medicine items are expected to be available in the country. In response to an inquiry made by the Committee regarding the availability of very essential medical items, the Ministry officials confirmed that there is no shortage of such items at present. Furthermore, the Committee also considered and approved the Annual Reports for the years 2022 and 2023 of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation, and the Wijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital. While reviewing these reports, the Committee raised concerns over unresolved audit queries related to these institutions. The Committee Chair recommended that an internal review mechanism be established within the Ministry to ensure timely and appropriate responses to audit observations. Hon. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, Hon. Members of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Dayasiri Jayasekara, Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan, (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, Samanmali Gunasingha, (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara, (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah and Jagath Manuwarna were present at the Committee meeting. Officials representing the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, including Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe, also participated in the meeting.
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