August 23, Colombo (LNW): A special audit of Parliament’s expenditure has raised concerns over the allocation and use of fuel by several senior officials, with records showing that unrestricted fuel facilities were provided during the final two years of the Ninth Parliament.
The audit examined fuel entitlements granted to positions including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chairperson of Committees and Secretary-General of Parliament, highlighting significant increases in consumption in some cases.
According to the findings, the Speaker was issued 3,994 litres of fuel in 2023 and 6,122 litres the following year. Compared with 2022, consumption increased by 66 per cent in 2023 and by 155 per cent in 2024.
The report also questioned the basis on which unlimited fuel was made available to the Deputy Speaker, whose position had been treated for fuel purposes as being equivalent to a non-Cabinet ministerial post. A similar arrangement was extended to the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, despite the position being regarded as subordinate to the Deputy Speaker.
Records examined by auditors show that 21,299 litres of fuel, worth approximately Rs. 8.55 million, were supplied for the Deputy Speaker’s private vehicle during 2023 and 2024. The audit also found that fuel consumption exceeded the stated capacity of three official vehicles assigned to the Deputy Speaker.
Questions were raised over the Secretary-General’s fuel entitlement as well. The report notes that Parliament has not obtained approval for the Secretary-General’s salary from Parliament since 2004, despite the remuneration being charged to the Consolidated Fund and therefore requiring parliamentary approval.
An earlier Hansard record from November 2004 had indicated that the Secretary-General’s salary and allowances should follow the Establishments Code and relevant public administration circulars, in keeping with arrangements applicable to other public officers. According to the audit, that approach has not subsequently been implemented.
The resulting arrangements allowed the Secretary-General to receive fuel without a stated limit, while similar facilities were extended to other senior parliamentary officials.
The audit further found that the Deputy Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary-General and several departmental heads had been granted unlimited fuel for official duties. Separate fuel allowances equivalent to 1,200 kilometres and 960 kilometres of travel were also provided for private use.
The findings are likely to prompt closer scrutiny of how fuel privileges are determined within Parliament, particularly at a time when public institutions face growing pressure to demonstrate stronger financial discipline and accountability in the use of state resources.