COPE directs GSMB to pay dues to Treasury

• Committee finds that between 2016-2021, amount due to Treasury not paid
• Instead, money placed on fixed deposits of Bureau

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) directs the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) to pay dues it owes to the Treasury, which it has failed to do so for years.

The  GSMB Technical Services Ltd., affiliated to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, was summoned before COPE which met yesterday with its Chairman MP Charitha Herath presiding.

The Committee found that although the Bureau had duly collected dividends during the period from 2016 to 2021, the amount due to the Treasury had not been transmitted and had been deposited in the fixed accounts of the Bureau.

Although the amount of royalty collected by the Bureau from the year 2016 to 2021 was Rs. 16,591,075,088, only Rs. 8,520,235,812 has been transferred to the Department of Treasury, Committee Chairman said.

The COPE Committee also took to discuss the payment of salaries by the Bureau to employees of GSMB Technical Services who were recruited in excess of the approved cadre of the GSMB and directed the Secretary to the Ministry to conduct an inquiry into this matter.

The Chairman further stated that if there is a shortage of staff in the Bureau, it should inform the Department of Management Services and obtain the deficit staff with the requisite approval.

The  COPE Committee making recommendations to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau, stated to re-inform the Department of Management Services about the needs of its employees through the Secretary to the Ministry and to resolve the relevant issue in accordance with the proper procedure.

The COPE Committee noted that the Action Plan prepared for the years 2019-2023 in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan prepared by the Bureau at a cost of Rs. 2,581,633 has not yet been properly submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. The Bureau officials said that the action plan has been submitted to the Board of Directors.

The COPE Chairman also drew attention to the fact that Parliament was not informed of the progress of the implementation of the recommendations made by the COPE Committee on the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau dated 18 September 2019. 

The members of the committee emphasised that it was imperative that Parliament be made aware of the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee.

Due to the inability of officials to provide credible answers regarding the non-implementation of the COPE recommendations on this situation the inquiry on the matter was adjourned for a month.

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Ministers Indika Anuruddha,  Nalaka Godahewa, MP Susil Premajayantha, Jagath Pushpakumara, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Nalin Bandara, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were present at this meeting whilst Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was in attendance as an observer.

The COPE meeting was also attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, officials from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and affiliated GSMB Technology Services and the Auditor General.