A news conference to apprise journalists in this regard was held at the Parliamentary Complex presided by COPE Chairman and Senior Minister Dew Gunasekara. The report incorporates the findings and the recommendations made by the Main Committee and the three Sub Committees after reviewing the Auditor General's reports of the years 2011 and 2012 and the performance related to each institution.
The Committee has investigated 47 public enterprises. Out of the 47, 18 were business ventures and 29 nonprofit institutions.
According to the report the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mihin Air and Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) are the three biggest losers.
Minister Dew Gunasekera pointed out that the performance of the most of the Institutions that come under the COPE has improved appreciably. Excepting a fes Institutions, the Institutions have now become accustomed to submit their Financial Statements to the Auditor General well on time. The submission of Annual Reports to the Parliament is encouraging he added.
The Committee intends to table another Interim Report in September before the Final Report which will be presented towards the end of the year 2014.
It was revealed that the first meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises was held on 8th June 2010 and as per a decision at this meeting three sub committees were formed. The first report of the Committee on 229 state institutions was tabled on 1st December 2011 and debated in the House on 8th May 2012.
Thereafter an interim report on 32 institutions was tabled on 25th October 2012 and the Second Report was tabled on 23rd July 2013 including the findings related to 244 institutions. The House debated the 2nd Report on 10th and 11th October 2013.
The Interim Report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday (05) examined 47 State Institutions for the period 8th October 2013 to 8th April 2014.
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Minister of Agriculture, Lasantha Alagiyawanna Deputy Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne and several other ministers participated at the press briefing. (SDF/KH)
