COPE head, Opposition call for better paid, powerful Auditor-general

While Parliament last Wednesday approved a salary of Rs 48,940 for Auditor-General (A-G) H.A.S. Samaraweera, Opposition legislators argued strongly for a better salary for a person holding the top post of one of the most important State institutions, while there were also calls to strengthen the powers given to the State auditor.

Several Government members including Chairman of the Parliament Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera too argued for a better salary for the A-G, stating that, heads of almost all State institutions audited by the Department, draw higher salaries than the A-G. He said, he agrees with Opposition MPs that the salary given to the A-G is inadequate, and in the COPE Report to be submitted to Parliament on July 23, recommendations have been made to address the issues of better salaries for officials in the A-G Department.

It is reports submitted by the AG that are scrutinised by COPE and then used to make inquiries regarding financial irregularities and mismanagement in State sector institutions.

Minister Gunasekera said that the ultimate responsibility of control over State finances rests with Parliament.” It is not the President who is responsible for the finances of the country, but all of us, both in Government and Opposition, who are responsible for ensuring that the expenditure of every cent of public funds is accounted for,” he said.

UNP Gampaha district MP Karu Jayasuriya who took part in the debate, said that it is regrettable, that in some quarters, the reports of the A-G are not taken seriously enough. “We have seen gross abuse of funds by some government departments, Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions, and even though they are highlighted in the Audit reports, they are forgotten after some time,” he noted.

One aspect that both Minister Gunasekera and UNP National list MP Eran Wickramaratne noted was that, the fact that within the A-G Department itself, there are three other officials that draw a higher salary than the person who heads the institution.

“These salary discrepancies must be done away with, and because of this shameful situation, we are undermining an important institution in the eyes of the public,” he said. The UNP MP also said that, as it is a constitutionally appointed post, the Speaker of Parliament should intervene to ensure that such alimonies are settled.

UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayaka said that failure to pay an adequate salary to the A-G, while auditors in the private sector draw handsome salaries, only undermines the Department. “We are leaving the room open for irregularities to take place in the A-G Department by this kind of treatment,” he added.

Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth who introduced the motion to the House, said that the AG’s salary has to be decided upon under Article 152 of the Constitution, and was done in keeping with the salary structures for public officials.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee to recommend and report on “political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation”, was held on Wednesday.

The meeting lasted about 45 minutes, and it was decided to call for public representations to the committee. for which. time has been given till August 9.