Public Enterprises Committee delegation visits Singapore

A delegation comprising members of the Committee on Public Enterprises led by Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Rohitha Bogollagama visited the Singapore Parliament on Thursday commencing a week long study tour in Singapore.

The purpose of the visit is to provide an exposure to the members of the committee on the workings of similar organisations in developed countries.

The Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, MPs Hasen Ali, Piyasiri Wijenayake, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi, H. R. Mithrapala, Senior Government officials, S. C. Mayadunne, Auditor General, V. Kanagasabhapathi, Director General Public Enterprise Department, M. N. Pieris Secretary to the COPE are among the members of the delegation.

The delegation visited the Singapore Parliament today and studied its activities. Later they met the Singapore Government Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Trade and Industry chaired by Dr. Ahmad MD MAGAD and exchanged ideas on the operational aspects of the respective committees in the two countries.

The Secretary General of the Singapore Parliament P. O. Ram conducted a briefing for the Sri Lankan delegation.

At the briefing it was explained how the Singapore parliament is making full use of Information Technology.

He said that they have got rid of paper work and all documentation. Parliamentary notices and order papers are now available in the inhouse intranet service for the members to access.

He also went on to mention that there is a considerable cost saving by doing so. Minister Rohitha Bogollagama instructed the Secretary to the COPE M. N. Pieris to explore the possibilities of having the Minutes of COPE sittings computerised so that any member could access the relevant materials.

During the next few days the delegation is expected to visit the PSA Corporation and watch port operations. Tour of the Juroung Town Corportion, and meetings are also scheduled with Parliamentary Estimates Committee, and the Public Accounts Committee.

Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is expected to address the Singapore-Sri Lanka Business Association and meet the Chairman of Singapore-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Minister will also call on the Speaker of the Singapore Parliament.