COPE summons SriLankan, etc

… accumulated UL losses Rs 326 bn

Representatives of debt-ridden SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and several other institutions have been asked to appear before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), its Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath has said yesterday. 

Accumulated losses at SriLankan Airlines have been estimated at Rs 326 bn.

 The decision was taken at the special COPE meeting held in Parliament yesterday (22), the Communication Department of Parliament stated in a statement issued.

The following is the text of the statement.  The meeting was held to decide on how future meetings should be held in the midst of COVID-19 as COPE Committee meetings could not be held as usual.

Accordingly, the committee members agreed to summon SriLankan Airlines on July 06th and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation on July 07th before the COPE Committee to review the current context of the relevant institutions.

It is also expected to inquire into the current status of Litro Gas Lanka Company and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka Company under the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. In addition, the committee members agreed to summon institutions which could not be summoned previously starting from the 08th of July.

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting in progress (pic courtesy Parliament)

The COPE Committee also focused on the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund, which is currently under the Mahapola Trust Fund which has been proposed to be taken up in Parliament for debate.

 In addition, the methodology for holding COPE Committee meetings in line with health regulations in the face of the prevailing COIVD situation was also taken into discussion. Accordingly, o6 officials the Chairman of the relevant Government institution, officials in charge of institutional accounts as well as the respective Secretary to the relevant Ministry of which the government institution is affiliated to, are scheduled to be summoned before the Committee whilst attention will be given in having the other officials connect through a digital platform.

 Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Sarath Weerasekera, State Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Indika Anuruddha Herath, D.V. Chanaka, Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Jagath Pushpakumara, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Eran Wickramaratne, Harsha de Silva, Nalin Bandara, S.M. Marikkar were present at the COPE meeting.