AG HOPEFUL OF ENHANCED POWERS IN THE FUTURE

Auditor General (AG) Gamini Wijesinghe said he admitted that the people should have the right to information through the media but he did not have the power to reveal any information pertaining to the audit inspections to the media and that his duty was to abide by law to make reports only to the Parliament.

After his meeting with the Mahanayakas of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters, he said he was hopeful that he would have enhanced powers soon. He pointed out that the Auditor General was not permitted to reveal information on inspections to the media or any other institution and that it prevented the public from access to information on the activities of the Auditor General’s Department. The Auditor General said it was through Parliament that the media and the public could receive information regarding any audit report.

He said, “FCIB, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Commission on Public Enterprises, acts on the audit reports. However the Auditor General does not have the power to arrest individuals responsible for any irregularity, as the police do. Under the proposed new act the Auditor General would be vested with enhanced powers to function without interference and the audit reports would be an integral part in preventing corruption and malpractices. The Auditor General’s Department has submitted the reports of all recent inspections to Parliament. However action against the culprits has been held up by long legal procedures.” Several senior officials of the Auditor

Under the proposed new act the Auditor General would be vested with enhanced powers to function without interference and the audit reports would be an integral part in preventing corruption and malpractices.

General’s Department were present at the occasion.

Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter, Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera and Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera blessed the Auditor General.