The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Very well.

¶ 02 These Standing Orders amendments arise from the long-standing efforts of many MPs in COPE and COPA against corruption. The Auditor General’s Department and parliamentary officials expend immense effort on these investigations. I know Ministers Sunil Handunnetti (then), former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath, and also Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera have worked tirelessly. COPE work extends far beyond a one- or two-hour sitting; today’s thieves are sophisticated, planning meticulously. COPE lacks its own investigation arm; it questions in real time and relies on the Auditor General and parliamentary staff.

¶ 03 We must be frank: a significant number of public officers are involved in corruption or negligence—not only out of fear of politicians; some are complicit, some are lethargic, some look away. We have seen even at the Central Bank how wrongs are aided. Therefore, not all public officers are saints; some err. The hard work done by COPE and COPA must yield results; printing large volumes alone is useless. When Standing Orders were amended during Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s tenure, we proposed this approach, but the then deeply corrupt Government blocked it. I served on that Committee. Now, with Government support, we have enabled this: COPE/COPA will not directly and ad hoc refer matters to the Attorney General; instead, when COPE/COPA determine that there is serious fraud or corruption, they will submit a motion to Parliament, and upon Parliament’s decision, the matter will be referred to the Attorney General.

¶ 04 Regarding remarks made today about Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena: he stated that bus conductors and drivers—especially CTB conductors—still commit theft. That is true. These are not our newly appointed conductors; a deeply corrupt environment had long prevailed. We are reducing it, but it still occurs. He did not accuse the current SLTB Chairman of theft.