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Finance Secretary to Skip COPF Meeting Ahead of ... - Newsfirst
The Committee on Public Finance had recently decided to summon Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma and a group of high-ranking Finance Ministry officials to investigate the theft of $2.5 ...
Finance Secretary's COPE no-show could trigger legal action, Free ...
The Free Lawyers Association states that Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Dr. Harsha de Silva, has the authority to take action through parliamentary mechanisms if the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, fails to appear before Parliament. Issuing a statement on behalf of the organization, former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon noted that the Committee on Public Finance was established under Parliamentary Standing Order 121, passed in 2022. He further stated that provisions exist under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act to penalize any individual who violates parliamentary standing orders. Accordingly, the committee chairman has the authority to summon any individual, and if such a summons is ignored, actions and penalties can be imposed under the Powers and Privileges Act. Tennakoon emphasized that such offenses may be punishable either by Parliament or by the Supreme Court. He added that penalties may include imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, a fine, or both. Therefore, any individual summoned by the Committee on Public Finance, under the chairmanship of Dr. Harsha de Silva, who fails to appear, may be subject to legal action under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act. The statement also noted that no previous government in history has challenged parliamentary financial accountability or undermined the authority of parliamentary committees in this manner. Tennakoon further stressed that if an individual fails to appear despite being summoned, the committee chairman must either enforce penalties or resign in order to uphold the dignity and integrity of Parliament. Meanwhile, Dr. Harsha de Silva stated yesterday (29) that he had been informed that Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma would not be appearing before the Committee on Public Finance. The Finance Ministry Secretary had been summoned to appear before the committee today (30) to provide explanations regarding an incident in which USD 2.5 million held in the Treasury for foreign debt repayment was allegedly transferred to an external party. However, Dr. Suriyapperuma informed the chairman via letter that he would be unable to attend the committee session today. Additionally, Free Lawyers Organization member Maithri Gunaratne expressed a lack of confidence in the ongoing investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the incident. Speaking on a TV Derana program aired last night (29), Deputy Min...
An interim committee headed by former Member of Parliament Eran ...
MP Harsha de Silva raises concerns over Finance Secretary's absence at COPF meeting ... The Secretary to the Treasury Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has informed the ...
Treasury Secretary requested rescheduling of COPF appearance, deputy ...
Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathne has clarified media reports regarding Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma informing the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that he would be unable to appear before the committee on Thursday. Speaking to the media on Wednesday (29), COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva said he had received a letter from the Treasury Secretary stating that he is ...
