News
President Sirisena okays nominees to 3 Independent Commissions but HRCSL still vacant
President Maithripala Sirisena has given the nod to the appointees of three independent commissions, but is yet to confirm those recommended to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) by the Constitutional Council (CC).
The President has confirmed those recommended to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC), the Public Service Commission (PSC) and five of the seven recommended to the National Police Commission (NPC).
The letters of appointment were sent by the President’s office on Friday to those confirmed in their posts.
The three members appointed to the CIABOC are retired Supreme Court Judge T.B. Weerasuriya (Chairman), Ranjith Silva and Neville Guruge.
The PSC will be headed by a former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, D. Dissanayaka, while its other members are A.W.A. Salam, N.S. Seneviratne, Dhara Wijetillake, Prathap Ramanujam, Wijaya Lakshmi Jagarajasigham, M.L.M. Mendis, R. Rannuge and Sarath Jayatillake.
The NPC will be chaired by Prof S. Hettige while its four other members confirmed are Anton Jeganathan, P.H. Manatunga, Savitri Dharshini Wijesekera and Y.L.M. Zuhair.
Letters of confirmation are yet to be sent to two others who were recommended by the CC to the NPC, the Sunday Times learns.
President Sirisena has 14 days from the receipt of a written communication with the names of nominees sent to him by the CC, to make the necessary appointments.
“In the event of the President failing to make the necessary appointments within the 14 days, the nominees are deemed to have been appointed as members of the commission, with effect from the date of expiry of such period,” under the provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
The CC will meet again on November 4 to nominate members to six other independent commissions.
The six Commissions to which members are to be named are Elections Commission, Finance Commission, Delimitation Commission, National Procurement Commission, University Grants Commission and Official Languages Commission.
Members of the National Audit Commission will be named after the National Audit Bill is passed by Parliament.