The Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) told the officials from the Ministry of Lands to discuss with the relevant institutions and the Treasury regarding the Rs. 2 billion arrears in tax revenue to be collected from Government institutions and arrange for an immediate settlement.
The CoPE recommended to the Secretary to the Ministry of Lands Chulananda Perera to update the Land Reforms Commission (LRC) Act and carry out the necessary measures to restructure its operations.
Accordingly, the CoPE recommended that a report be given within 6 weeks, based on the action taken in this regard.
These recommendations were made when the CoPE was convened on Friday (21) under the chairmanship of MP (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, to examine the Auditor General’s report for 2020 and the current performance of the Land Reform Commission.
The CoPE delivered several recommendations to the LRC and decided that the Commission be summoned before the CoPE on another occasion within three months to review the implementation of the recommendations tendered.
The CoPE observed the concerns in the transfer of land by the Commission and thus the Committee Chief recommended that a report containing detailed information about the transfer of land in the last 20 years should be submitted to the CoPE within a period of one month.
It also recommended setting up a Task Force to identify and estimate the value of land and recommended that the Secretary to the Ministry report to the CoPE within two weeks the details of the responsibilities assigned to the task force.
If further recommended the appointment of the Surveyor General or his representative as well as the Government Assessor or his representative for this Task Force.
Furthermore, the CoPE discussed the “2018 project to distribute 10,000 plots of land” and Committee Chief Bandara recommended that a detailed report on the progress of this be given to the Committee. In particular, he recommended that the 214 people recruited on a temporary basis for this project should be discussed with the management department and a definite final decision should be taken to include them in the approved number of employees, and if necessary, they should be referred to the Cabinet for approval.
The CoPE also recommended to include the procedure of the LRC in a national policy on land distribution and make necessary arrangements, adding that updating the 50-year-old LRC Act to suit the present-day context would be of importance.
The CoPE recommended that within two weeks, the Organic Fertiliser Project, which was initiated by the LRC and temporarily paused at a cost of Rs. 350 million, should be transferred to a state agency which has the knowledge of fertiliser products.
The missing files of the LRC were also taken into discussion and the CoPE informed the commission to immediately submit the missing files to the Auditor General.
It added that immediate action be taken to resolve the existing issues regarding the beneficiaries identified earlier under the statutory assignments.
The Auditor General’s opinion on the financial statements of this commission has been disclaimed for about 10 years, the notice was given to prepare the financial statements correctly and arrange for the annual reports to be tabled in Parliament within three months.
The CoPE recommended taking action against the alleged company to recover the amount of Rs. 17 million paid to a private computer company for the creation and development of a fully integrated computer system and to take disciplinary action against the officials involved in the matter.
Furthermore, the Committee recommended taking legal action within two weeks to recover the amount of nearly Rs. 12 million for the 06 acres of land assigned to a private company without a tax deed in the Homagama area. It was also instructed to inquire and report to the CoPE regarding not making an agreement and charging 04 per cent instead of 06 per cent of the assessed value.
The CoPE recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the officials concerned for renting the building where the head office of this Commission is run, exceeding the government assessment from the year 2016 without a rental agreement, contrary to the decision of the Cabinet and that immediate steps be taken to move the office to a Government building.
The Committee further recommended to inquire into the relevant agencies regarding an investigation officer who is a lawyer who received two salaries and arrange to recover Rs. 1.7 million salary and other allowances and recommended action against that officer.
It was also recommended to discuss with the relevant institutions and the treasury regarding the two billion arrears of tax revenue to be collected from the government institutions and arrange for an immediate settlement.
State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, Indika Anuruddha, D.V. Chanaka, Shantha Bandara, Janaka Wakkumbura, MP Anura Dissanayaka, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Eran Wickramaratne, Nalin Bandara, Nimal Lanza, S.M. Marikkar, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, (Prof.) Charitha Herath, Mujibur Rahman, Madhura Withanage, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Premnath C. Dolawatte and Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi were present at the occasion.
