INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) disclosed that complaints against the currently suspended officer of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman
were made since February this year, however a decision on the matter has been delayed.At the Committee meeting held yesterday (22), the
Additional Auditor General
K Perera pointed out that on 28.02.2022, the former chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau has requested an investigation through the
had been reported regarding this official.Thus, it was disclosed that the former chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau, Major General
Mahinda Hathurusinghe, had requested the Ministry in February of this year to make arrangements for him to be brought back to Sri Lanka
taking action until the incident received a lot of publicity through the media.The Director General of the Foreign Employment Bureau said
that on 28.02.2022, according to the request of the former chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau, an investigation on this official was
The Director General said here that after calling for a report from the Ambassador of Oman and based on the investigation report received
from the Criminal Investigation Department on the 4th of November, the bureau took action to suspended the said officer.The Committee
expressed its displeasure over the lack of prompt action regarding this officer and questioned on the matter at length.The secretary to the
Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment said that even though he came to this Ministry after the month of May this year, he will accept
The committee pointed out that even if the secretary changes, the officials should take responsibility for this.The absence of trained
that the responsibility of the Foreign Employment Bureau is not to send unskilled workers abroad, but to work with all other relevant
ministries and institutions in a joint approach to send skilled workers abroad to meet the demand for foreign jobs.Thus, the committee
chairman instructed the secretary to the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment to prepare a mechanism within 2 months to send trained
workers to meet the demand of foreign jobs in good coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Administration,
stated.COPA subcommittee chair (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Members of Parliament J
Alawathuwala, Ashok Abeysinghe, (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Wasantha Yapabandara, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya,
Ananda wimalaweera Secretary to the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment, Aruni Wijewardena, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Priyantha Mayadunna, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Nihal Ranasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Education
and other officials were present at the Committee meeting held.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
