First a comedy then a tragedy

Last week Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena was elected as the new Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). COPE is the primary oversight committee that examines the accounts of public corporations and of any business undertaking vested in the Government. It has the power to summon and question any person, call for and examine any paper, book, record or other documents and to have access to stores and property. 

COPE is meant to ensure the observance of financial discipline in public corporations and other semi-Governmental bodies in which the Government has a financial stake. As a key watchdog of the public’s finances, traditionally the position of chairperson of the committee has been granted to a member of the opposition and with individuals who may have a degree of integrity, especially concerning their finances.

Last week’s appointment of Abeygunawardena as the Chairman of COPE is a slap in the face for the minimum standards expected from Parliament. He is an individual manifestly unsuitable to hold this position and would no doubt stifle even the minimalistic checks and balances imposed on public enterprises. 

It is the duty of the Committee to report to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets and estimates, financial procedures, performance and management of corporations and other Government business undertakings. While an individual’s formal education, or lack thereof, need not reflect his capacity or integrity, in the case of Abeygunawardena, it is an addition to the numerous reasons why he is unsuitable for the job. A man who had not completed secondary education is today the chairman of the most important parliamentary oversight committee on public finances.

Abeygunawardena who started his political career as the driver to a former cabinet minister, later went on to be accused by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) of accumulating hundreds of millions of rupees in undeclared assets, was investigated by the courts for corruption. He has done precious little while in the executive or legislation.

In 2021, the Colombo High Court released Minister Abeygunawardena from all charges in the case filed against him on unlawful acquisition of assets. The Bribery Commission filed a case against him over unlawful acquisition of assets to the tune of Rs. 41.2 million while serving as a minister from 2010 to 2014. When the case was taken up in 2021 however, with the change of Government and a string of acquittals in bribery cases, the high court judge ordered to release Minister Abeygunawardena as the attorneys representing the Bribery Commission informed that they do not wish to proceed with the legal matter. Insufficient evidence, technical errors, procedural errors, and the filing process by legal institutions can be identified as reasons that have prevented further proceedings, thereby influencing the acquittal and the exoneration of the accused.

The appointment of Abeygunawardena as COPE Chairman was treated as a joke initially, because even with the low bar set for Sri Lankan politicians and legislators, this was considered quite a dismal action. Once the farce wears off it will dawn on the tragedy of governance facing the country. Individuals who themselves should be investigated and most likely should be behind bars for corruption are now in charge of overseeing the public finances. The tragedy of the situation is no laughing matter.