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No audit committee for Dept. of Probation & Child Care Services!

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) Chair Lasantha Alagiyawanna instructed the Department of Probation and Child Care Services to identify the problems related to children at the local level, district level, provincial level and national level and prepare a solution for them.

State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna gave this instruction when COPA met yesterday (04) under his Chairmanship to examine the Auditor General’s report and current performance of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services for the years 2019/2020/2021.

Speaking further, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that it is necessary to maintain a data system to identify children who do not attend school. As a result, he pointed out that a system should be developed to get information from the school at least once a month or every once in two months. Moreover, the state minister also stated that it is necessary to prepare a program in this regard with the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, the COPA Chair pointed out that it is important to quickly find out about children who do not come to school.

Attention was also drawn to the non-utilization of the UNCRC data system provided to this department in the year 2018 for the need to submit timely and accurate reports to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in relation to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at a cost of 2350000 rupees. Officials present said that there are some practical concerns pertaining to this data system. Thus, the Chair instructed to make arrangements for the implementation of this data system as soon as possible.

The Committee on Public Accounts also inquired from the officials present about the updating of the ordinances and COPA advised to give a date-bound report on the said by August 08th.

It was also disclosed that this department does not have an audit committee. Therefore, by the 25th of this month, the COPA Chair gave instructions to establish the committee and inform COPA about its composition.

Furthermore, there was a discussion about the vacancy of the post of Legal Officer and the appointment of an officer for the same.

It was also discussed how to protect children’s rights when it comes to media reporting of incidents involving children and how to work for the future welfare of the child, steps to be taken to prevent abuse of children on the Internet and delay in hearing complaints received regarding children.

State Ministers Dr. Suren Raghavan, Ms. Diana Gamage, Members of Parliament Dr. Major Pradeep Undugoda, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya were present at this Committee meeting held.

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Forests on state lands to be designated as reserves

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The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate several forests located on state owned lands as official forest reserves.

Deputy Minister – Anton Jayakody has stated that such forests, each spanning 05 hectares or more, have been identified in every district.

Special priority will be given to designating forest reserves on mountain peaks.

In the first phase, 20 forests in districts including Monaragala and Ampara have been selected under the new program named ‘Vanaspathi’,  he said.

He further said the initiative aims to protect these forest areas and expand the country’s forest cover.

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No cases filed against 22 banned pyramid schemes – CBSL

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Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.

This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.

According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.

The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.

However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.

The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).

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NPP’s Nishantha Jayaweera sworn in as MP

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U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).

He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.

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