He can only bark, says AG

The Auditor General’s Department is only a ‘watch dog’ and not a ‘biting dog’, the new Auditor General S. Saranajothi said in Kandy recently. He said his Department can only disclose discrepancies, but has no power or responsibility to take action against those responsible for such discrepancies.

The new Auditor General was in Kandy to pay his respects to the Mahanayake of Malwatta Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera at his official aramaya and also to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. It was during this visit that he made these observations.

He said that it was the duty of the Auditor General to scan the financial dealings of State departments and State institutions. It was also the duty of the Department to report to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. He said the Auditor General's Department had no power to impose any punishment.

He further said the role of the ‘watch dog’ was only to inspect the financial dealings of the respective departments as a routine duty without waiting for any complaints and report the findings to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and COPE.

The objective of the Auditor General's Department is to ensure a corrupt free financial management in the public sector that will keep the State coffers intact for development, he said. Central Province Assistant Auditor General U.G.S.Wijesinghe accompanied the Auditor General.