Former senior public servants among appointments to National Commissions

The majority of members of the National Procurement Commission appointed last week by President Ranil Wickremesinghe are retired senior public servants with the new chairman of the Finance Commission also appointed last week is a former Deputy Secretary to the Treasury reappointed to the post.

All members of the two Commissions have been appointed on the basis of nominations by the Constitutional Council, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. There’s an ethnic mix in the composition of the two Commissions.

While one former director of a private sector engineering group has also been appointed to the Procurement Commission, while the members of the Finance Commission have been selected for their financial exertise.

Mrs W. Sudharma Karunaratne was appointed as Chairperson of the National Procurement Commission with Warnakulasuriya Ivan Tissera, D. Piyasiri Daranagama, Sumandiran Sinnakandu, and A.G. Pubudu Asanga Gunawansa serving as its other members.

Mrs W. Sudharma Karunaratne earlier served as Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industry and Director General of the Sri Lanka Customs. Piyasiri Daranagama was former National Project Director at Provincial Road Development Project while Sumandiran Sinnakandu was the Chief Internal Auditor at Prime Minister’s Office. A.G. Pubudu Asanga Gunawansa was a director at the Serendib Engineering Group Pvt Ltd.

Meanwhile, members were also appointed to the Finance Commission on the directives of the President. Accordingly, Sumit Abeysinghe will serve as Chairman of the Finance Commission, with Tuan Naleen Osen and Mayan Vamadevan appointed as fellow members, President’s Media Division said.

Abeysinghe has been in the Chairman of the Finance commission and previously served as Deputy Treasury Secretary.  Tuan Naleen Osen and Mayan Vamadevan were appointed based on their expertise in financial management and their previous experience in the field.

The Finance Commission is responsible for advising the President and the Government on financial matters and allocating funds to provincial councils. The commission plays a crucial role in ensuring that funds are allocated in a fair and efficient manner and that financial resources are effectively utilized to meet the country’s development goals.

The appointment of new members to the commission is expected to further strengthen its role in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in the management of public finances. The new members have been tasked with working closely with the existing members of the commission to develop strategies and policies that will help the country achieve its economic objectives, the PMD said.