2024-07-12
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Public Enterprises disclosed that a 6-acre land belonging to the Urban Development Authority located at James Peiris Mawatha, Colombo 02 was leased for 12 billion rupees for 99 years in 2019 without the approval of the Board of Directors. when drafting the lease agreement related to this land, it was disclosed that in addition to the lease conditions submitted and approved by the Board of Directors, other conditions were included that has not been approved by the Board of Directors.
However, it was disclosed at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that disciplinary investigations are underway against the Legal Director regarding the drafting of the relevant agreements and the development of the particular land has been at a halt thus far.
Details pertaining to the said matter was disclosed when the Committee on Public Enterprises met in Parliament recently (Jul. 9) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardana, Member of Parliament.
Furthermore, it was also disclosed that the Authority had to bear a loss of 330 million rupees due to the leasing of 2 acres 2 roods and 21.4 perches land bordering Fort D. R. Wijewardana Mawatha owned by the Urban Development Authority without the formal approval of the Board of Directors. Accordingly, the Chair instructed the officials to send a formal report on these incidents to the Committee within two weeks.
Presenting facts, the officials of the National Audit Department pointed out that they have identified the problematic situations in the accounting system of the Urban Development Authority. The officials pointed out that the manner in which the values of the project lands owned by the Authority have been assessed is also questionable. The officials of the audit department pointed out that the ownership of the land on which the Parliament complex stand is still held by the Urban Development Authority and gave instructions to transfer ownership of the land to the Parliament. Addressing the Committee, the Chair of the Committee instructed to send a complete report containing all the details of all the investment lands owned by the Urban Development Authority to the Committee within two weeks.
The Urban Development Authority has completed 13,602 houses in 22 housing projects using 48,156 million government funds under the Urban Revitalization Program for ghetto dwellers living around Colombo. However, the officials of the audit office pointed out that 66 houses in such apartment complexes still remain vacant. Officials of the Urban Development Authority stated that measures will be taken to settle the owners of the vacant houses as soon as possible. However, the officials of the audit office pointed out that the condominium management certificate has been obtained for only one housing project out of the completed housing projects. As a result, it was disclosed that the Urban Development Authority has borne a sum of 667.6 million rupees for the maintenance of houses in 2023 and up until May 2024. Accordingly, the officials pointed out that after transferring the ownership of the houses to the relevant personnel, the responsibility of maintaining the houses will be removed from the Urban Development Authority.
Furthermore, the attention of the Committee was also drawn to the fact that not enough attention has been paid to provide facilities for parking the vehicles of the people who come to Colombo on a daily basis. The Committee pointed out that the work of the 2 parking garages proposed to be built by the authority itself was stopped in the middle of the year 2021 and so far, 230 million rupees have been spent. Accordingly, the Urban Development Officers informed the committee that the construction work has started to complete the work in such a way that these 2 car parks can be used in their current condition.
State Minister Hon. Indika Anuruddha Herath, Member of Parliament Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha and Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, government officials were present at this Committee meeting held.
2025-10-24
The Committee on Public Finance has granted its approval for the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026. This approval was given during a committee meeting held in Parliament yesterday (Oct. 23) under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva. Officials from the Ministry of Finance, who attended the meeting, briefed the Committee on the allocation of funds for various sectors and the targets set for the year 2026. After an extensive discussion on these matters, the Committee granted its approval for the Bill. The Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 is scheduled to be presented to Parliament for the second reading (Budget Speech) by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance on 7th of November.
2025-10-23
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development held extensive discussions regarding the emergency coal purchases and annual procurement plans carried out by Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited. Particular attention of the Committee was drawn to the tender procedures followed prior to the year 2022 and the amendments made to those procedures after 2022. This matter was taken up at the Committee meeting held in Parliament recently (Oct. 17th) under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament S. M. Marikkar. Officials representing the Ministry of Power and Energy, Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Department of the Auditor General were present at this meeting. During the discussions, following inquiries made from the officials regarding the manner in which emergency coal purchases had been conducted prior to 2022, the Committee Chairman recommended that a comprehensive report containing all data related to such emergency purchases be submitted to the Committee. The Committee also discussed the current stock levels of coal held by Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited, the duration for which those stocks would be sufficient, and the quantities of coal expected to be purchased in the future. Hon. Members of Parliament Nalin Bandara, Jagath Vithana, and Asitha Niroshan Egoda Vithana also participated in this Committee meeting.
2025-10-23
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability discussed the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of several ministries and the expected progress up to 31.12.2025. This was discussed when the Committee met in Parliament recently (Oct. 21) under the chairmanship of the Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhami. Accordingly, the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure and the Ministry of Environment and the expected progress up to 31.12.2025 were discussed. Addressing the Committee, its Chairman, Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhami stated that a comprehensive report should be submitted to Parliament, based on the inquiries made by the Committee, regarding the utilization of allocations and progress achieved by each relevant ministry under the 2025 budget. He further mentioned that the Committee will review the performance of all ministries that fall under its purview accordingly. The Committee discussed the budget allocations made to each ministry and their expenditure progress, and it was recommended that reports on the fund utilization and progress of essential projects be submitted to the Committee. The Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Hon. Members of Parliament, J.C. Alawathuwala, Attorney-at-Law Sujeewa Senasinghe, Gnanamuththu Srineshan, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Navaratne, Kitnan Selvaraj, Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath, Sudath Balagalla, Attorney-at-Law Chitral Fernando, Upul Kithsiri and M.S. Uthumalebbe also participated in this committee.
2025-10-22
During a meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) held on October 21st in Parliament, chaired by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament, the committee considered and approved an Order under the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 (Published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2451/10 pertaining to the increase of the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions and potatoes to ensure a reasonable price for local farmers for the 2025 Yala season. It was noted that although the SCL was slated for abolition, the Government continues to use it to protect local producers despite vulnerabilities to corruption. Accordingly, action has been taken to increase the SCL on one kilogram of imported Big Onions by Rs. 10 (from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50) and on one kilogram of imported potatoes by Rs. 20 (from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80), with effect from August 26, 2025. Officials present stated that Sri Lanka's tariff structure must be sustainable, simple, transparent, and predictable for traders. In line with this, the committee issued broader directives, recommending that the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Finance integrate existing laws with the National Tariff Policy for comprehensive implementation. The committee also directed the ministries to conduct a full assessment of the impact of proposed tariff regime changes, including the move to a strict four-band import duty and the phasing out of Para tariffs (SCL and CESS) from 2027 to 2030, with an update requested by the end of March 2026. To reduce dependency on seasonal tariffs, the committee recommended that the Department of Agriculture create a project to expand the use of high-yield technique kits for big onion cultivation, aiming to cover the entire cultivation area within five years. I was recommended that this should be part of a wider strategy that includes humidity and temperature-controlled warehouses such as “Prabashwara”, buy-back agreements, and futures contracts to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize prices for farmers. Moreover, the Committee also reviewed and approved Rules under Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) related to the payment of duty on liquor production. The new rules will stop the production of non-payers after 30 days and halt all distribution and sales after 90 days. This strengthens enforcement, as the current 3% interest penalty on unpaid fees has been an insufficient deterrent due to the lack of stronger recovery mechanisms in the Excise Act. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Nishantha Jayaweera, Arkam Ilyas, Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Attorney at Law, Harshana Rajakaruna, Nimal Palihena, Chithral Fernando, Attorney at Law, Wijesiri Basnayake, Thilina Samarakoon, Champika Hettiarachchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law. Officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Investment Policy and the Excise Department were also present.
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