CoPA to recognise 109 State institutions

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) will recognise 109 State institutions that have shown higher performance in 10 categories, according to an assessment of financial and regulation adaptation based on 2017 accounts.

The award ceremony has been scheduled to be held at the BMICH on 5 July. Awards will be presented to organisations that have excelled in their respective categories out of 838 State institutions.  

Among the winners, the Prime Minister’s Office has excelled obtaining 100% among 22 special spending units of the Government, while Megapolis and the Western Development Ministry has topped the list of 48 ministries receiving 93% marks. 

The Department of Treasury has received 100% among 93 State departments, District Secretariat Gampaha received 100% among 25 District Secretariats, and North-Central Provincial Council 92% in the list of nine Provincial Councils.

In the two categories of Provincial Council funds and Provincial Council special spending units, Central Provincial Chief Secretary’s Office, Central Province Revenue Department, North-Central Provincial Cultural Department, Northern Provincial Department of Revenue, Northern Provincial Co-Operative Employees Commission, Northern Provincial Public Service Commission, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary – Planning, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Public Service Commission, and the Uva Provincial Deputy Chief Secretary’s Office – Finance have obtained 100%. 

Among the institutions established under the Provincial Council statutes, Southern Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority has received 93% marks, while Hambantota Municipal Council, Minuwangoda Urban Council, Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabhahawa have topped in their respective categories receiving 89%, 91%, and 96% marks from the assessment. 

In carrying out the independent assessment, the CoPA has provided a set of questions spanning planning, internal administration procedures, human resources management, State resources management, State revenue management, State expenses management, other State financial activities, updating books and schedules, submission of accounts, responding to audit, and submission of performance reports to Parliament.

CoPA Chairman United People’s Freedom Alliance lawmaker Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the State institutions were falling in line with standards set by the Government and the Auditor General since the Government came into power, and that COPA will consider expanding the categories considered for assessments during the next round.

“We are looking at including the right to information response, the reach of the sustainable development goals, meeting public service standards, human resources planning, meeting financial reports standards, and the ability to reach the goals set for each organisation at the beginning of each year. However, setting high standards will not eliminate corruption completely during a short period of time. It takes time for these organisations to adopt the new standards and do good for the country,” he said.

According to MP Alagiyawanna, the CoPA team comprising 26 lawmakers representing all political parties in the Parliament, are working together without any political differences to establish higher standards for the State institutions which spend public money passed in the Parliament annually. The overall financial control and compliance with legal provisions on the performance of the 838 institutions examined in the year 2017 have escalated from 64% in 2015 to 80%. 

Auditor General Chulananda Wickramaratne commended the institutions. “It is expected to uplift the performance level of all State institutions by paying continuous attention. We expect to see more positive growth in the coming years.” (AH)