National Audit Bill not inconsistent with Constitution

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Supreme Court has determined the National Audit Bill is not inconsistent with the Constitution, having considered the petition filed in par with Article 121 (1) of the Constitution. Reading the determination yesterday at Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya gave the green light for the lawmakers to proceed. 

Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Minister and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatileka presented the Bill entitled ‘National Audit’ to Parliament on 3 April. 

The Bill provides for the powers, duties and functions of the Audit Service Commission, and the establishment of the office of the National Audit Office and the Sri Lanka State Audit Service. It also specifies the role of the Auditor General over public finance.

The Bill, which was formulated with the inclusion of amendments proposed by the Cabinet subcommittee headed by Special AssignmentsMinister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, alsostipulates the role the Auditor General would play concerning public finance.It specifies the scope of audits carried out by the Auditor General such as the auditing of all expenditure from the Consolidate Fund.

According to the Bill, the Chief Accounting Officer of a State institute would be vested with the powers of surcharge. The Chief Accounting Officers could impose the surcharge on any individual responsible for loss or deficit, either jointly or individually, followed by official disciplinary action by a disciplinary authority or judicial process.