Public Finance Committee slams Port City Commission

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) chaired by Dr. Harsha De Silva, Member of Parliament unanimously expressed its displeasure over the operations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission as its senior officials did not appear before the Committee and had not provided with a proper notice of absence under the due process, Parliament's Communication Department said. 

Whilst emphasizing on the importance of the Port City project for the purpose of generating investments and the work done thus far, the Committee unanimously expressed their dissatisfaction and advised the officials present that a better sense of responsibility needs to be exercised as professionals handling such project of importance.

Therefore, the Secretary to the Commission was instructed by the Committee on Public Finance to submit a by way of writing a reasonable explanation as to why high officials to the Commission are not present before the committee when they have been summoned before the Committee on Public Finance on the 21st of December.  

This was stated at the Committee on Public Finance held recently (05) under the chairmanship of Hon. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva, Member of Parliament to take into consideration the Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021.

The Committee inquired why there was no proper online presence or a website for the Colombo Port City Economic Commission especially in a context where the Commission expects registrations and submission of applications to be done online. 

Accordingly, the Committee instructed the Commission officials present, to look into resolving the said matter.

Furthermore, the Committee also inquired into the delay in the submission of audit reports. The Committee directed the commission officials present before the Committee,s to ensure the expeditious submission of the annual audit reports.

Furthermore, the chair of the Committee of Public Finance Dr. Harsha De Silva, Member of Parliament also announced that a sub-committee has been appointed to oversee the establishment of the Casino Regulator consisting of Chandima Weerakkody, M. A. Sumanthiran, Mayantha Dissanayake and Prof. Ranjith Bandara under the Chairmanship of Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Minister Nalin Fernando, State Ministers Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Anupa Pasqual, Dr. Suren Raghavan, Members of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Mayantha Dissanayake, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Madhura Withanage, Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Sumith Udukumbura were present at the Committee meeting held.