Media Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne has refuted Dr. Harsha Silva’s claim that Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma has refused to appear before the Committee of Public Finance (CoPF).
Dr. Ariyaratne has said that Dr. Sooriyapperuma had asked to reschedule it to date after May 05 to accommodate a special Parliamentary address by the Government.
Tensions flared in the backdrop of a US$ 2.5 million cyber breach at the Ministry of Finance, which came into revelation in the last few days and Chairman of the CoPF – Dr. Harsha de Silva had publicly alleged that the Finance Ministry Secretary was intentionally evading committee summons to explain the security lapse.
Meanwhile, the Free Lawyers Association states that the CoPF Chairman has the authority to take action through parliamentary mechanisms if the Finance Ministry Secretary fails to appear before Parliament.
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Issuing a statement on behalf of the organization, former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon noted that the CoPF was established under Parliamentary Standing Order 121, passed in 2022 and provisions exist under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act to penalize any individual who violates parliamentary standing orders.
Accordingly, the committee chairman has the authority to summon any individual, and if such a summons is ignored, actions and penalties can be imposed under the Powers and Privileges Act, the statement notes.
Tennakoon emphasised that such offenses may be punishable either by Parliament or by the Supreme Court and penalties may include imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, a fine, or both.