The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) for appearing before the committee without adequate preparation.
As a result, the officials present were sent back with instructions to reappear at a future date after being properly informed and prepared.
The incident occurred during a recent COPA meeting held in Parliament, chaired by MP Aravinda Senarath, to review the Auditor General’s reports for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the department’s current performance, according to the Parliamentary Communications Department.
During the session, the committee examined the implementation of directives from previous meetings. A key issue raised was illegal vehicle registrations that occurred before the integration with the Customs computer system. The Auditor General had previously identified 25 irregularities and expected a report outlining investigations and disciplinary actions taken. However, the required report was not submitted.
Although DMT officials claimed to have provided the report, the Auditor General confirmed he had not received it. When a copy was tabled during the session, it was deemed unsatisfactory, prompting an extensive inquiry. The officials failed to provide clear answers, stating they lacked relevant information from previous years.
In response, COPA strongly criticized the officials’ lack of preparedness and decided to summon the department again. The officials were instructed to ensure full readiness before their next appearance.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers, committee members, and state officials, including Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera, Sugath Thilakaratne, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Sagarika Athauda (Attorney-at-Law), Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Dr. Janaka Senarathna, Dinindu Saman, and Lal Premanath, according to the Parliamentary Communications Department.
