Prime Minister refutes allegations over 20A on auditor general

COLOMBO (News1st): Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has refuted claims made by the opposition that the powers of the Auditor General would be curbed under the 20th amendment. A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office rejected claims that the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Office would be exempted from an audit by the Auditor General. The statement pointed out that both these establishments had fallen under the purview of the Auditor General since the 1978 constitution had come into effect. It added that the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office were brought under the Auditor General's purview under Article 154 (1) of the 19th amendment. The statement also rejected accusations that all government departments would be removed from the purview of the auditor general through the 20th amendment. It added that the minister in charge of the subject can assign the auditing of a state corporation or a state-owned company to a qualified audit firm under Article 154 (2) of the 19th amendment. The statement noted that this could be done with the consultation of the Auditor General. Accordingly, the Prime Minister said that changes have not been made to these matters through the 20th amendment. In his statement, the Prime Minister also dismissed claims that an unqualified person can be appointed as the Auditor General through the 20th amendment. He noted that those appointed as Attorney General, Auditor General or a Supreme Court judge will always have the required educational and professional qualifications to serve in those roles. The Prime Minister pointed out that they cannot function in those positions without these qualifications. He stressed that the unprincipled attempt made by the opposition to mislead the people without understanding the facts of the matter, must be defeated.