New budget office to oversee financial affairs with accurate info to Parliament

A separate budget office in Parliament is to be set up to monitor the financial affairs by directly obtaining accurate information related to the Government’s financial control including income and expenditure according to Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake.

He made this disclosure at a special public service program jointly organised by the Parliament’s Communications Department and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) under the sponsorship of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in line with the International Day of Democracy last week.

A group of young social activists representing all the districts of the island participated in this program organised under the theme “Democracy and the Role of the Youth Community”.

The Secretary-General explained the steps taken to further strengthen the Parliament, including the establishment of several new committees like the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, and the Committee on Economic Stabilisation, as in the developed democratic countries.

Parliament Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera, Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando, Parliament Administrative Director G. Thatchanarany, Chief Hansard Editor Nayani Lokukodikara, Legislative Services Director and Director of Communications (Acting) Janakantha Silva, Information Systems and Management Director Mahesh Perera and Chief Research Officer Ayesha Godagama contributed as resource persons.

There were programs to educate the youth in several areas including democracy and the role of the youth community, Parliamentary affairs including legislation, standing orders and the role of the Member of Parliament. 

The program was conducted in both Sinhala and Tamil languages. In addition, a special Parliamentary tour was also organised for this group.