Motion seeks more powers to COPE

26 September 2025 06:27 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, Sept. 26 (Daily Mirror) - A motion to amend the Standing Orders pertaining to taking legal action against serious financial frauds or corruption being disclosed at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was presented to Parliament today (26).

Chair of the Committee on Public Enterprises MP Nishantha Samaraweera, in terms of Standing Order 137 of Parliament, presented this motion to amend the existing Standing Order 120(4) pertaining to the COPE.

Accordingly, through this proposed amendment, if during the examination of the reports submitted to the Committee by the Auditor General, if it is concluded by the Committee that serious financial frauds or corruption has taken place, such incidents may be directly referred to by the Committee either to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption or to the Inspector General of Police, for legal action.

Accordingly, the said motion has been referred to the Committee on Standing Orders for consideration, and thereafter the relevant further steps will be taken.

Comments - 4

RanjithT Friday, 26 September 2025 09:31 PM

Over the last decade or so COPE members and equally the public did not have a proper understanding of the mandate of COPE. At times COPE even questioned the on going activities which is outside the mandate as per the standing orders. COPE is required to look at the audited reports of public institutions and make reconditions remedial actions to the parliament. Action if needed has to be taken by the minister in charge of the subject. But what happened was a wild goose chase of finding faults and responsible people beyond which nothing happened. That is why people started blaming everyone. BTW I bet that most of the COPE members cannot read a balance sheet let alone understanding and take decisions. I wonder they could even understand the audit quarries and explanations given. Listening to the sessions COPE members appear to come without even studying the report. This amendment is not going to make any difference.

8 3

Zarook Friday, 26 September 2025 10:13 PM

Have you seen Pacha Kumara Rilanayake or his immediate stooges read a paragraph in English, let alone a balance sheet.

0 0

God Save Our Country Saturday, 27 September 2025 12:29 AM

Current COPE is an extension of their political machine

0 0

Lion Saturday, 27 September 2025 05:39 AM

This is a very good move. Hope the law will come in to effect to investigate the wrongdoing revealed in the COP investigation.

0 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.