The Government plans to establish a new National Handicrafts Authority by 2027 through the merger of the Department of Textile Industries, the National Crafts Council, the National Design Centre, and Laksala, according to discussions at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

The proposed authority is expected to transform Sri Lanka’s traditional textile and handicrafts sector into a competitive industry by integrating modern fashion, design, and technology while targeting international markets.

The matter was reviewed when COPA met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim, examining Auditor General’s reports covering 2021–2023 and 2024, as well as the Department’s current performance and restructuring programme.

Officials informed the Committee that the Government intends to position the textile industry both as a vital part of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and as an economically viable sector aligned with evolving market demands. Efforts are also underway to attract more youth into the industry by expanding higher education and technical training opportunities through the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel (SLITA).

COPA discussions highlighted challenges including human resource shortages, suspended recruitment of textile instructors, and underutilization of machinery purchased during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Concerns were also raised about the limited use of facilities at the Katubedda Training Centre and the failure to generate income from the Department’s tourist bungalows.

Between 2021 and 2025, 720 students enrolled in Department training courses, but only 456 completed them, reflecting a dropout rate of over 40%. In some cases, Government expenditure per trainee ranged from Rs. 700,000 to Rs. 1.1 million.

The Committee stressed that the textile industry must evolve into a competitive sector that preserves heritage while embracing modern technology and international opportunities. 

It emphasized the importance of implementing the restructuring programme within the stipulated timeframe and ensuring efficient use of public resources. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has raised serious concerns over gaps in the management of Sri Lanka’s archaeological heritage, stressing the urgent need for a centralized data system and timely updates to the Department of Archaeology’s official website.  

The COPA Committee emphasized the necessity of maintaining a centralized data system containing comprehensive information on antiquities and archaeological excavations.

This matter was discussed when COPA met in Parliament this week (06 Jan), under the chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim, to examine the Auditor General’s Reports for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 relating to the Department of Archaeology, as well as the department’s current performance.

The Committee recalled that at its meeting held in October 2023, it had recommended the establishment and maintenance of a data system incorporating information on all archaeological excavation sites in the country, discoveries made through such excavations, the success or failure of those excavations, whether further excavations should be continued, and details of other locations requiring excavation.

When the Chair inquired into the current progress, the officials present stated that a comprehensive database containing all such information has not yet been established, and that a data system is currently maintained only in relation to excavation permits.

Accordingly, the Committee stressed that it is critically important to establish and continuously update such a data system, and informed officials that COPA is prepared to provide assistance if required. The COPA Chair further emphasized the importance of assigning a sufficient number of IT officers to the Department of Archaeology.

Officials informed the Committee that although approval had been granted by the Department of Management Services to recruit 12 IT officers, currently only one officer is in service, and that officer is not attached to the head office. The Committee therefore instructed that urgent action be taken to fill the existing vacancies.

The COPA Chair also recommended that a formal proposal with regard to the centralized, up-to-date database on archaeological excavations be submitted to the Committee within three months.

The Committee further drew attention to the failure to update the official website of the Department of Archaeology. 

Members pointed out that maintaining an updated official website is vital for tourist attraction. Accordingly, the Committee instructed the Department to prepare a mechanism and take prompt action to update the website.

Additionally, the Committee took note that 48% of the total archaeological sites identified as at 31 December 2023 have not yet been gazetted. The Committee recommended that a report containing full details of gazetted and non-gazetted sites be submitted within one month.

Furthermore, the Committee recommended the submission of a report on sites identified for nomination to UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, along with the relevant draft proposals. (Newswire)

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Opposition MP Kabir Hashim has been appointed as the new Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) of the tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

This appointment fills the vacancy created following the resignation of MP Aravinda Senarath, who served as the Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) for the first session of the Tenth Parliament, on 06th August 2025. 

According to a Parliament statement, the Committee convened in Parliament today (12) to elect the new Chairman.

For the position of Chair, the name of MP Kabir Hashim was proposed and seconded by MPs J.C. Alawathuwala and Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, respectively.

Subsequently, addressing the Committee, the new Chair stated that he expects to carry out his duties in a neutral manner, free from political bias, with the cooperation of all members. He further expressed his special appreciation for the work performed by former Chair MP Aravinda Senarath and stated that he expects to carry out the responsibilities of his office even more effectively. 

Moreover, MP Kabir Hashim indicated that he is prepared to take the necessary measures to further systematize the functions of the COPA Committee by formulating new plans.

The occasion was also attended by Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne, MPs M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, J.C. Alawathuwala, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Hector Appuhamy, Kavinda Jayawardhana, Oshani Umanga, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Thushari Jayasingha, M.A.M. Thahir, Lal Premanath, and Chanaka Madugoda, as well as Parliament officials. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has revealed that an overpayment of Rs. 7,730,262 was made to the former Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Maheepala Herath, between 2014 and 2017, exceeding the approved fuel allowance limit.

The disclosure was made during a COPA session held this week (05 Aug), chaired by MP Aravinda Senarath, to examine the Auditor General’s reports from 2022 and 2023 and the current operations of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council.

According to the 2010 State Expenditure Management Circular, the monthly fuel allowance for three official vehicles was capped at 1,700 litres. However, an additional 1,500 litres was approved monthly through the Development Design & Machinery Authority and the Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority based on a decision by the Provincial Board of Ministers.

As a result, Rs. 2.69 million was paid by the Machinery Authority and Rs. 5.03 million by the Transport Authority, leading to a total excess payment of Rs. 7.73 million. COPA recommended that a report be submitted within a month and steps be taken to recover the funds.

The committee also disclosed that in 2022, the personal secretary of the provincial Governor received Rs. 725,000 in fuel allowances during the Governor’s absence abroad, which violates a 2018 Presidential Secretariat Circular. COPA said the amount should be recovered from the former Governor, who will be summoned in future proceedings.

Further concerns were raised over irregularities in rent collection for lands owned by the Provincial Council, prompting a call for a detailed report within two months.

In a separate finding, officials revealed that a supplier had delivered 30-watt LED solar-powered street lamps in 2024 while billing them as 90-watt units. As a result, payment was withheld, and COPA noted this as a clear act of fraud. It recommended a full investigation into the procurement process. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) revealed that the North Central Provincial Council spent Rs. 1.17 billion in excess of the allocated budget to renovate 53 roads in 2011, allegedly without following proper procedures.

The findings, based on the province’s 2023 Auditor General’s report, indicated that 741 projects were created by dividing the 53 roads into smaller contracts—many valued under Rs. 5 million. This approach allowed bypassing competitive bidding, COPA heard. A single contractor was awarded 629 of those contracts, worth Rs. 2.93 billion, without a public tender process.

COPA members also found that some roads, which should have cost around Rs. 11 million per kilometer, were billed up to Rs. 45 million. Officials said most of the roads were later deemed substandard, and payments were halted based on a 2013 university-led review.

One of the senior officials overseeing the projects at the time had previously been removed from another government agency over misconduct allegations and has since died.

COPA noted the projects may represent one of the most significant instances of corruption in Sri Lanka’s road development history. The committee recommended identifying responsible officials, recovering misused funds, and submitting complaints to relevant law enforcement bodies.

In a separate case from 2017, Rs. 100 million paid upfront for a proposed Rs. 542 million auditorium at a school with fewer than 500 students went to waste after the project was abandoned. COPA questioned the rationale behind the decision, which was reportedly authorized solely by the then-chief minister.

COPA instructed the officials to submit a report within three weeks on both matters. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), chaired by MP Aravinda Senarath, has recommended that an audit be conducted on the daily financial loss incurred due to train cancellations.

This recommendation was made during the Committee’s meeting held recently (05 June) at Parliament to discuss the Auditor General’s Report for the year 2023 and the current performance of the Sri Lanka Railways Department.

The Sri Lanka Railways Department was summoned before the Committee on May 08, during which the 2023 Auditor General’s Report was reviewed. Based on the issues revealed, the Committee decided to further discuss matters related to this institution. 

Accordingly, former General Managers of Railways and former Secretaries to the Ministry were also summoned and were present at the meeting.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the insufficient number of audit and management committee meetings held, and inquiries were made from the former Secretaries to the Ministry and former General Managers of Railways regarding the lack of adequate meetings from 2021 to 2024. 

In response, the former officials pointed out that the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during this period hindered the ability to hold such meetings. Although arrangements had been made to regularise these meetings in 2024, the officials stated that the final scheduled meeting could not be held due to staff transfers. 

The Committee noted that as a result, the institution’s efficiency had declined and that delays in train operations had increased, with 64 train delays in 2022, 61 in 2023, and 46 in 2024.

A lengthy discussion was held on this matter, and the Committee recommended that a report be submitted to the Ministry regarding daily train delays and the measures taken to prevent them. 

Additionally, the Committee recommended that an audit be carried out on the daily losses incurred due to train cancellations. (Newswire)

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Members of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) undertook a field investigation visit to the Ratmalana Railway Maintenance Yard recently (22 May), under the directives of the Committee Chair, MP Aravinda Senarath.

State Minister Sugath Thilakaratne and MPs Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Oshani Umanga, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Thushari Jayasinghe, T.K. Jayasundara, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, and Janaka Senarathna also participated in the visit.

According to a Parliament statement, during the COPA meeting held on 09 May on the current performance of the Department of Railways, it was disclosed that 63 railway engines and 40 power sets belonging to the department had been parked within the premises of the Main Mechanical Engineering Office and railway stations in Ratmalana for a period ranging from 1 to 8 years. 

It was also observed that the machinery and workshops of the Department of Railways were underutilised. In light of these findings, Members of Parliament undertook this observational visit to further investigate the matter.

During the visit, Chief Mechanical Engineer at the Ratmalana Railway Maintenance Yard, Nishantha Perera, and Deputy Mechanical Engineer, Nilupa Ekanayake, briefed the Parliamentarians on the relevant sites and demonstrated the practical operations of the respective areas.

Following the site inspection, the Parliamentarians pointed out that a large portion of the yard was occupied by removed machinery and equipment. They also highlighted that certain machinery was not stored in environmentally appropriate conditions, and that some equipment had been purchased in excessive quantities. 

The MPs stated that all findings from this observational visit would be presented to the Committee on Public Accounts as well as to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport. (Newswire)

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A total of 53 elephants have died and 17 have been injured in train collisions in Sri Lanka from 2020 to 2024, it was revealed during a recent session of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

The revelation was made during a discussion chaired by MP Aravinda Senaratne on the 2023 Auditor General’s report and the current performance of the Department of Railways.

COPA noted that despite a 2018 study identifying high-risk zones where elephant crossings intersect with railway lines, the number of train-elephant collisions has not decreased.

Officials stated that the situation has worsened, with nearly 200 elephants currently roaming near railway tracks daily. 

They further said that while short-term solutions have been implemented, discussions are ongoing with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to introduce long-term measures. (Newswire)

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has expressed displeasure over officials of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) appearing before the Committee without prior preparation.

According to a Parliament statement, the officials were summoned to discuss the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the department’s current performance.

However, as they were unprepared, the COPA committee sent them back with instructions to appear on a future date, after being duly informed and adequately prepared.

The incident occurred during a meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts held under the Chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senarath in Parliament on Monday (10 Mar). 

During the meeting, the Committee inquired into the implementation of directives issued during previous meetings. In particular, the Auditor General had presented 25 observations regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place before the integration with the Customs computer system. 

The Committee expected a report detailing the investigations conducted on these matters and the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials. However, the Auditor General pointed out that such a report had not been submitted.

Although the officials present claimed that a report had been provided, the Auditor General stated that he had not received it. A copy of the purported report was tabled during the session, but upon examination, the Auditor General informed the Committee that it was entirely unsatisfactory. 

As a result, the Committee conducted an extensive inquiry into the matter, but the officials failed to provide satisfactory responses. They stated that they did not possess the relevant information dating back.

In response, the Committee expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officials’ conduct and decided to summon the department again at a later date. The officials were also instructed to be thoroughly prepared when appearing before the committee on the next occasion. (Newswire)

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A Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) employee has been found running an unauthorized funeral parlour on official municipal property within the Borella Cemetery, as revealed during a recent Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) hearing.

The investigation, conducted under the chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senaratne, uncovered that the employee had been operating the business illegally since 1994 using an official residence and land belonging to the CMC. Despite prior orders to reclaim the land, no action had been taken, and the employee had continued operations without proper permits.

Further revelations at the hearing exposed that the individual had even attempted to forge documents to claim ownership of the land but was unsuccessful. The former Municipal Commissioner testified that her efforts to address the matter had led to threats against her life.

COPA ordered the immediate closure of the illegal business and called for an in-depth investigation into the misuse of public property. The committee also raised concerns over how such an operation continued for decades without environmental clearance or legal registration.

Authorities have been instructed to submit a report within two weeks, outlining actions taken to reclaim the land and prevent similar incidents in the future. (Newswire)

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Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake today informed the Parliament of the government’s decisions concerning the Parliamentary Committees of Public Enterprises and Public Accounts. 

Minister Bimal Rathnayake said that the government has decided to grant the leadership of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to the Opposition.

He said, however, the government has decided that the ruling party will head the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Minister Rathnayake said this was due to the COPE committee intending to focus on matters related to the former government, as its initial task. 

The Leader of the House also assured that the government will do its utmost to accommodate the requirements of the opposition regarding representation in Parliamentary committees. (Newswire)

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The need for public assistance to identify Russian and Ukrainian nationals overstaying by violating their visa conditions was taken up for discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently.

Officials from the Department of Immigration and Emigration pointed out that there were reports of Russians and Ukrainians, whose visas have expired, continuing to reside in Sri Lanka.

They pointed out that these Russians and Ukrainians have also been found to be engaging in business activities in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. 

The Immigration Department officials further revealed issues in identifying the whereabouts of these Russians and Ukrainians.

As such, the officials pointed out the need to establish a hotline to seek public assistance to obtain information on Russians and Ukrainians who have violated visa conditions and are engaging in business activities. 

The matter was taken up for discussion when officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration were summoned before the COPA Committee last week. (Newswire)

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CCTV cameras that were to be installed on the premises of the Head Office of the Immigration and Emigration Department have been kept in a warehouse for 06 years, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) was informed. 

The COPA Committee Chair Lasantha Alagiyawanna has instructed the department to ensure the immediate installation of the CCTV cameras. 

The Committee was further informed that the department had purchased only some parts required for the camera for Rs. 2.1 million in 2017, and not all required parts.

It was also informed that the officers who had carried out the purchase had been transferred.

The COPA Committee instructed that the cameras be installed before May 15, 2024, under the supervision of the committee headed by an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. 

The matter was brought to light when the Auditor General’s reports for 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the current performance were taken up for discussion before the COPA Committee last week (Apr 02). (Newswire)

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The program carried out by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has led to an increase in the efficiency of the public sector in Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said. 

According to a statement from the Parliament of Sri Lanka, commending the COPA’s performance, the President expressed his gratitude to its Chair State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and all who worked towards it.

The President made the remarks while participating in the gold and silver award ceremony for 65 institutions that achieved high performance levels in 2019 and 2020 according to the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts.

The said awarding ceremony was held yesterday (18) under the patronage of the President, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the participation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

Speaking further, the President stated that a green economy, driving the economy ahead through digitization and innovation cannot be done through outdated means.  He also emphasized the need for all government institutions to work as one unit with one goal and one plan.

In his address, the President emphasized the significance of digitalization, innovation, and the need for unified efforts to drive economic progress. He called for effective control of public expenditure, maximizing value, boosting revenues, and strengthening the country’s economy through a robust administrative mechanism.

Furthermore, the President underlined the importance of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and expanding relations with India as essential steps toward building a strong economy.

During the ceremony, the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, Lasantha Alagiyawanna commended all successful government institutions and highlighted that over 98 per cent of them had made significant progress since 2015

The public accounting system, financial control and performance of the State, Provincial Councils and local government bodies are evaluated annually by the computer network system developed by the Department of Information Systems and Management of the Parliament and implemented under the guidance of the Committee on Public Accounts. Accordingly, the Auditor General analyzes, and the government institutions which showed high performance as per the investigation and evaluations were awarded.

Accordingly, 833 government institutions were evaluated, and for the year 2019, 15 selected institutions were given gold awards and 30 institutions were given silver awards, and for 2020, 15 selected institutions were given gold awards and 30 institutions were given silver awards, totalling 90 awards each. The presentation of awards was presided over by the President.

Accordingly, awards were presented under the categories of main Expenditure Units of Government, Government Ministries, Government Departments, District Secretariats, Provincial Council Funds, Provincial Ministries / Departments / Special Expenditure Units, Provincial Authorities, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Provincial Councils.

Based on the concept of the Committee on Public Accounts of the Eighth Parliament, the Evaluation Program for State, Provincial Council and Local Government Institutions started in the year 2016 based on the 2015 fiscal year, with the aim of streamlining the finances and performance of the government institutions.

More than 1000 government institutions including Ministries, Departments, Provincial Councils and Divisional Secretariats joined the award ceremony through Zoom technology.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Chief Organizer of the Opposition Lakshman Kiriella, Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Sirwardena, Auditor General W. P. C. Wickramaratne, Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera were present at the event. (NewsWire)

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The negative and positive tape machines purchased from France in 1999 by the government have not been used even once, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) was informed. 

According to a Parliament statement, the COPA committee was informed that the negative tape machine and the positive tape machine with an obsolete technology were purchased from France at a cost of Rs. 108 million. 

Officials from the Ministry of Mass Media pointed out that this machine was purchased in the year 1999 and this technology is outdated.

They further stated that this machine has not been used even once and it cannot be sold for iron as it is made of Copper Tin Zinc alloy, commonly known as Cheenachatti.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media, Anusha Palpita stated that the rating system of television channels is not correct and is done in an irregular and biased manner.

He stated the above at the COPA meeting held last week (25) to look into the Auditor Generals reports of the Government Information Department for 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the examination of the current performance. The Committee was Chaired by MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna.

Speaking further, Anusha Palpita mentioned that in order to calculate the rating, a device is installed in about 400 randomly selected TV sets for the purpose of collecting data. He pointed out that three major media organizations have bought about 300 television sets equipped with these devices by giving money to the institutions that performed the calculations and because of this the data received is inaccurate.

Anusha Palpita also mentioned that since there is more responsibility for the state media than the private media organizations, it is not possible to work with the motive of rising in the ranks of channel ratings.

The matter concerning the identity cards for journalists was also discussed and the Committee further discussed the preparation of a system for evaluating journalists who contribute to providing news more actively.

Furthermore, the current progress of 18 functions which were stated as the main objectives of this department were also discussed. A discussion at length was held about the preparation of a systematic program to provide local information to foreign countries and foreign information to the people of Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A discussion was also held about making the Independent Television Network and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation profitable, and regarding the action plan of the Government Information Department and its progress.

State Ministers Diana Gamage and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Members of Parliament Niroshan Perera, J. C. Alawathuwala,  Jayantha Ketagoda, Sivagnanam Sritharan, (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, (Ms.) Manjula Dissanayake and M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withanawere were present at the Committee meeting. (NewsWire)

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The total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by December 31, 2022, in relation to RAMIS and Legacy systems is over Rs. 904 billion, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) was informed. 

According to a Parliament statement, it was disclosed that an amount of over Rs. 163 billion has been identified as income that can be collected without any legal concern and that over Rs. 740 billion is income that has been temporarily suspended due to certain reasons.

The Auditor General also pointed out that this amount has been identified as the total arrears of tax to be collected under both RAMIS and Legacy systems and there was a discussion at length about not collecting the revenue due that could be collected off this tax arrears.

The Chair of COPA, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, recommended that a report be given to COPA with dates containing information on how to collect the tax arrears identified as chargeable income which can be collected at least in instalments. The Chair also recommended that a separate report should be given on the total outstanding tax amount of Rs. 904 billion and the report should state in detail how taxes have been evaded and the reasons for such.

This was disclosed when the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) met recently (12) under the Chairmanship of State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna for the reviewing of the current performance and progress of the Inland Revenue Department which was summoned before COPA on the 28th of November 2022.

It was also discussed that the RAMIS computer system was not at a proper level of operation and that there were no trained personnel to operate the system once it was set up. Therefore, the need to prepare a suitable program in this regard was also addressed.

Furthermore, the existence of return cheques worth over Rs. 2.4 billion as of 30 June 2022, according to a COPA discussion held on 28.11.2022, was also discussed. The officials who were present pointed out that 90% of tax payments are made through the Bank of Ceylon and even though the tax payments are approved on the day they are paid, they are shown as return cheques the next day. Accordingly, the Chair of the Committee contacted the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon via phone during the Committee and gave relevant instructions.

The Parliament statement added that a discussion was also held regarding taxation on the gross collection for the casino business.

State Minister Diana Gamage, Members of Parliament Niroshan Perera, J. C. Alawathuwala, Sivagnanam Sritharan, Hector Appuhamy, Isuru Dodangoda, and (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya were present at the Committee meeting. (NewsWire)

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Tear gas loses its effectiveness following expiration and does not cause serious harm to victims, Sri Lanka Police informed the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts.

A senior Police officer speaking during a discussion with COPA stated that this was why during certain instances in Sri Lanka the Police are seen handling tear gas with their hands.

He further stated that those alleging that expired tear gas cause serious harm to people, including death, must prove so, while it must also be proven that the tear gas in question was an expired product.

The information was relayed to the COPA committee by the Sri Lanka Police when questions were raised on a stock of tear gas imported in 2012 which is reported to be expired at present. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) C. D. Wickremeratne also explained that the Police consists of two units, the proactive and reactive Police units, to deal with incidents in the country.

“The Police need to be prepared to face various security-related incidents. As preparatory measures, tear gas is imported. However, depending on the state of the country, there are instances where the tear gas is not used and tends to expire,” he said. (NewsWire)

Tear gas loses its effectiveness following expiration and does not cause serious harm to victims, Sri Lanka Police informed Parliament . A senior Police officer speaking during a discussion with COPA stated that this was why during certain instances in Sri Lanka the Police are… pic.twitter.com/a96CjJTP0E

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) April 28, 2023

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The Sri Lanka Police has been summoned before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) for its next sitting. 

The Chair of COPA, Sate Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna stated that the Sri Lanka Police is instructed to report to COPA on Wednesday, 26th April 2023.

Alagiywanna said that the Police Department has been summoned to examine the Auditor General’s reports and current performance.

Meanwhile, the Department of Samurdhi Development has also been ordered to report to COPA on Tuesday, 25th April 2023.

Accordingly, the Department of Samurdhi Development has been called before COPA to look into matters based on the reports of the Auditor General relating to the previous years and the current performance. (NewsWire)

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