Govt. targets transparency in Budget spending

• More Ministries subjected to Select Committee during Budget 2017
• Media to be allowed to observe Select Committee proceedings

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

– Our Lobby Correspondent

The Select Committee of Parliament appointed to discuss the expenditure of ministries selected from Budget 2016 estimates,  has provided a platform for Parliamentarians to discuss Budget related matters with Government officers.

The opportunity will be given for Parliamentarians to discuss with Government officers to make adjustments in parallel to the Committee Stage Debate, Select Committee Chairman and Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe said. He also recommended adding more Ministries to face the Select Committee in Budget 2017.

“We have considered 17 Ministries through the Select Committee. Ministers, State Ministers, and the Deputy Ministers of these Ministries met their officials and discussed the allocations in detail. We saw the Ministers getting a chance to discuss matters, which is not possible during a Committee Stage Debate taking place between the Parliamentarians in the House. Even during the Committee Stage some politicians don’t even talk things related to the day’s debate. So, we recommend including more Ministries for this Select Committee procedure, which was started in 2008. I also request to open doors for media as well. Need not change the Standing Orders to allow media but a special permission granted by Speaker would be adequate for the time being till Standing Orders get revised,” he said agreeing to table the committee reports on 17 and 18 December one day before Parliament concludes the debate on Budget 2016.

Parliament appointed a Select Committee on 21 November enabling legislators to meet and discuss the expenditure of 17 ministries for 2016, after the period allocated to the committee stage of the Budget was limited to only 15 days this year.

Ministry of Tourism Development, Christian Religious Affairs, Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Ministry of Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Ministry of Disaster Management, Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, Ministry of National Dialogue, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Ministry of Rural Economy, Ministry of Primary Industries, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Special Assignment will be scrutinized by this Select Committee.

The committee was set up by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in accordance with Standing Order 97 and the resolution passed by the Parliament on 23 October. The Speaker also nominated Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Mahinda Samarasinghe to head the committee.

Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Chandima Weerakkody, UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister of Labour and Trade Unions Relations Ravindra Samaraweera, EPDP MP Douglas Devananda, UPFA MP Gamini Lokuge, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardana, JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti, UNP MP Vadivel Suresh, UNP MP J. M. Ananda Kumarasiri, ITAK MP Annamalai Nadesu Sivasakthi, UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma, ITAK MP Kaveendiran Kodeeswaran, JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa, UNP MP Mayantha Dissanayake, UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman, UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna, UNP MP Dr.Thusitha Wijemanna, and ITAK MP S. Shritharan are the other members of this Select Committee, the Speaker has appointed.