The Hon. Aravinda Senarath - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we are debating a very important and decisive matter for our country. Under Standing Orders 119 and 120 of Parliament, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) are mandated to examine audit reports of relevant institutions and present observations on issues such as inefficiencies and financial fraud. These Committees are empowered accordingly. Specifically, COPA can summon about 830 state institutions, including ministries, departments, provincial councils and local authorities.

¶ 02 There is a particular public perception of these Committees. After our Government assumed office and we took up responsibilities in COPA, many responsible public officers and civic-minded citizens who have studied these Committees over decades told us that these Committees had become mere talk-shops. Fraud and corruption had increased day by day; theft and fraud had seeped into the bloodstream of some individuals. Society levelled serious accusations that these Committees only talk and discuss while the nation’s wealth is destroyed, with no follow-through.

¶ 03 Our consistent stance, before and after assuming office, is that theft, fraud and corruption must stop, and that state institutions must be managed properly. That is why we are actively engaging in all these Committees. After the Opposition declined, I assumed the Chair of COPA for a brief period.

¶ 04 We summoned several institutions, including some of the country’s reputed ones, and presented reports to Parliament. In reviewing operations, we found instances where certain officials had acted beyond their remit, ignoring establishment codes, circulars and regulations, sometimes at the behest of political authorities of the day, causing serious difficulties to those institutions. We also identified politicians who caused losses amounting to millions of rupees.

¶ 05 COPA is the oldest standing committee of Parliament. Historically, despite the audit observations made through this Committee, never had Parliament adopted a decision after debate based on COPA’s recommendations. However, I am pleased to state that, within just one year and five months of this Government, for the first time in history, action has been taken: based on allegations examined by COPA, a former Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has repaid to the Council the value of excess fuel used beyond his entitlement. Likewise, a former Governor has also made payment for fuel misused, pursuant to COPA’s recommendations. This is our approach—not to trap public officials, but to assist them and their institutions to correct issues identified in audit reports, and to deliver an efficient public service.

¶ 06 That said, we did find officials who worked beyond their scope. There were cases where hand tractors were imported, but a luxury vehicle such as a Prado was registered under the same chassis number—clear evidence of corrupt dealings. Parliamentary Committees exist to halt such corruption. Fiscal discipline is entrusted to Parliament, which must ensure that taxpayers’ money is managed properly. The Auditor General and the Department of Audit exist to identify shortcomings during implementation. We examine those reports and act to resolve issues encountered.

¶ 07 For the first time, moving towards Commonwealth parliamentary models, we are prepared to amend the Standing Orders so that, after COPA deliberates and submits recommendations, and after the subject Minister’s observations are received, Parliament may debate, and if Parliament concludes that a fraud or corruption has occurred, the matter will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement authority—such as the CID or the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Thereafter, the Committee will notify the relevant institutions for legal action. It is not that the Committee directly refers matters to law enforcement; rather, Parliament decides after debate. This is a golden moment in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, and today is significant: for over 100 years of COPA’s existence, citizens could not secure this framework. With the mandate given to the National People’s Power Government to establish social discipline and build a corruption-free country, we are now implementing this vision in Parliament.

¶ 08 Amending the Standing Orders to enable action against corrupt politicians and a small fraction—perhaps one to two percent—of public officials who violate circulars and financial regulations is a historic victory for the country. At this decisive juncture, Parliament has achieved a noteworthy success. Our message to the beloved citizens is that this Parliament, unlike Parliaments over the last 77 years, will act as the people’s Parliament, minimizing fraud and corruption through maximum measures. Thank you for the opportunity.