Ministers continue to neglect COPE report - Handunnetti

COPE Chairman Sunil Hadunnetti yesterday raised a point in parliament that the respective ministers had not responded to the COPE report presented in parliament on January 24, 2019. It’s now been 16 weeks without a response, although it’s expected they reply within eight weeks.

He told parliament that according to standing orders, respective ministers should inform parliament of the actions to be taken based on recommendations of the COPE report within 8 weeks. He said the ministers had neglected their responsibility even after 16 weeks.

The Chairman said several institutions such as the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute of the Agricultural Ministry, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), Drug Regulatory Authority of the Health Ministry, the Finance Ministry's Rural Development Bank (RDB) and SriLankan Airlines were among those who had not responded to the COPE report.

He said the Road Development Authority (RDA), Milco, Pady Marketing Board (PMB), Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) had already responded to the COPE report. Agricultural Minister P. Harrison said he would take steps to present the report of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute within two weeks. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)