Perera K

ST has informed me now that he is not able to present himself at the Committee on Public Finance tomorrow to discuss the issues regarding the missing USD 2.5m. This is unacceptable as the Constitution of #SriLanka places full control of public Finance with Parliament and by standing order COPF is DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for OVERSIGHT on DEBT REPAYMENT among many other important matters. Thus, him being summoned is not an act of discretion but a constitutional duty of the Committee. He has to answer questions by the committee. And he had the opportunity to put the ‘record straight’ if by any chance he was being wrongly accused. But why is he running away? What is there to hide? As the incumbant ST he has a responsibility. He must fulfil that responsibility or if he cannot, he must give it to someone who can. This is also personal to him since he is the first ever politician to occupy this important civil service position; he sat as an MP of the JVP/NPP government and even as a member of our Committee till the day before this appointment. This high handed act shows total lack of respect for the parliamentary system of checks and balances that is so critical post-crisis [that is why the COPF is chaired by a member of the opposition since the 2022 meltdown]. It is a kick in the face of the promised ‘system change’ the people of this country voted for. It is also a breakdown of the undertaking to @IMFNews on governance. His excuse is that President will address Parliament next week and he can come by thereafter. That is not acceptable and unrelated.

For the past 12 days, this issue has been consuming my normal life like “cyanide.” A moving appeal by Tamil author @Theepachelvan who was promised by the minister for culture that his work of fiction seized indefinitely by Sri Lanka customs will be released.