Employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board have reportedly received a total of Rs.3,670 million in various allowances in the year 2020 and 2021 without the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The matter was revealed during the meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises. Attention has been drawn to the decision to pay Rs.2,134.9 as allowances in the year 2021 and Rs. 1,544.4 million in the year 2020 without Cabinet approval.
COPE Chairman Parliamentarian Charitha Herath has noted that there should be accountability for the funds as it is public money.
He also pointed out that some of the categories used for the payment of allowances were unacceptable.
The COPE Chairman has said that the annual expenditure of the Ceylon Electricity Board exceeds the revenue expected by the Inland Revenue Department through all taxes.
Meanwhile, the COPE has decided to hold a special meeting to look into the power generation, procurement, distribution and projects of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
Meanwhile, members had requested the Chairman of COPE to inform Parliament and the Speaker to appoint a Select Committee to look into all matters including the power generation plan of the CEB.
The Chairman of COPE pointed out that the Committee could hold a special meeting to look into this matter.
