Post of Auditor General Opposition calls for more time to scrutinize President’s nominee

By Yohan Perera

The appointment of a new Auditor General has been postponed as some members of the Constitutional Council (CC) had wanted more time to scrutinize President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s nominee for the post, informed sources said.   

Sources said CC member Ajith P. Perera had wanted more time to scrutinize the Present’s nominee.   

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had nominated L. S. I. Jayaratne, who was once rejected by the Constitutional Council (CC), as Auditor General again, informed sources said yesterday.   

The President originally named H. T. B. Chandana, the audit officer of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), for the post, but he was rejected. The names of N. A. O. Danapala Gammanpila were then proposed, followed by Jayaratne. It was reported that Ms. Jayaratne’s name has now been nominated again.   

Minister Bimal Rathnayake told the media that although the President had previously proposed four names for the position on separate occasions, the post remains vacant to date as the Constitutional Council has failed to properly exercise its constitutional authority.   

The CC is expected to meet next week to decide on the Auditor General.