The Government, in its discussion paper for constitutional reforms, has proposed to have a Auditor General and an Audit Service Commission with the authority to audit the accounts of the Presidential Secretariat and other state institutions receiving parliamentary allocations, Daily Mirror learns.


The proposed Commission, with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, if enacted will comprise the Auditor General and two senior retired audit officers.


The Commission will be empowered to audit all the Ministries and Government Departments, institutions and commissions. Also, the Commission will have powers to audit the accounts of companies which have a 40 per cent Government shareholding.


Meanwhile, Parliament Secretary General Dammika Dasanayake has also worked out a road map for strengthening the parliamentary system.


According to this road map, it has been decided to amend the Standing Orders to provide for electronic voting and live broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings.


It also has been sought to allow media access to the proceedings of various committees with the approval of their chairman and to appoint two opposition MPs as chairmen of the Committee on Public Enterprises and the Public Accounts Committee. (Kelum Bandara)