CoPE questions Rajapaksa era hiring at NSB

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) yesterday questioned the arbitrary recruitment process followed at the National Savings Bank (NSB) in 2008 during the tenure of the former Government under Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

During the CoPE investigation held yesterday in the Parliament complex, it was revealed the recruitment of staff assistants and peons for NSB were conducted as per a list provided by the Private Secretary of the then Minster of Finance without conducting interviews or calling for public applications.

The carder of staff assistants at NSB comprise 48.6% of the total staff in the bank amounting to 2,066 employees in addition to 563 peons recruited during the former Government, which were done circumventing the State recruitment policy.

According to CoPE, NSB has violated Government rules and regulations set for recruitment compared to other State banks. During the session, CoPE stressed the importance of enforcing a compulsory recruitment process at NSB. 

CoPE Chairman Sunil Handunnetti, Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Non-Cabinet Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva, United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) lawmakers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dayasiri Jayasekara, and Jayantha Samaraweera were present at the CoPE meeting.