Scope of COPE widens

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Both Government and the Opposition yesterday unanimously agreed to amend Parliamentary Standing Orders to enable the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to summon and look into the accounts and dealings of Institutions for which funds have been passed by the House, even if they do not come under the supervision of the Auditor General.

This agreement was made after several MPs expressed their inability to summon companies although the House passes funds for them.

COPE Chairman and Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said that accounts and transactions of companies which are in the Auditor General's report can be examined.

The companies registered under the Registrar of Companies do not come under the scrutiny of the Auditor General, eventhough Parliament allocated funds for them.

"We have sought advise and instructions from the Attorney General to seek the possibility of summoning them before the COPE.

JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said everybody in this August Assembly felt that institutions for which funds are allocated by the House should be accountable to COPE.

Minister Seneviratne further said that he will agree with this suggestion that these companies by summoned before COPE. "But it could be done only if the House agrees," he said.

Speaker Lokubandara said the Constitution is supreme.

It has given powers to the House to amend its standing orders. "We act according to the Constitution. We must strengthen the powers granted to Parliament.

"We should not weaken the powers of Parliament," he said.

When the Speaker asked, whether the House agrees or not, MPs of both sides, (the Government and Opposition) said that they unanimously agree to amend the Standing Order to facilitate this.