As floods batter the nation, Sri Lanka faces a deepening financial oversight crisis with no Auditor General in place at a moment when accountability matters most.
Sri Lanka is confronting a serious governance dilemma at a time of national emergency, with the absence of an Auditor General raising urgent concerns over public financial management. As the country struggles to respond to widespread flood damage, the continued vacancy in this critical constitutional office has triggered warnings of institutional paralysis and weakened parliamentary oversight.
In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr. Harsha de Silva, highlighted the gravity of the situation. The letter, dated December 22, draws attention to the fact that the post of Auditor General has remained vacant since December 07, while the position of Chairman of the Audit Services Commission is also unfilled. Together, these vacancies have created what he described as a deeply problematic situation at a critical national moment.
Dr. de Silva reminded the President that under Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament holds full control over public finances. For this authority to function meaningfully, an independent audit mechanism is essential. He further noted that the appointment and duties of the Auditor General are clearly defined under Article 154 of the Constitution, which mandates the auditing of public institutions and reporting directly to Parliament.
The letter stresses that the absence of an Auditor General directly obstructs this mandatory constitutional process. Since the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Enterprises rely on audit reports to carry out parliamentary financial oversight, their work is effectively stalled without an Auditor General in office.
As Chairman of the Finance Committee, which oversees the budget and operational framework of the National Audit Office, Dr. de Silva stated that it is his responsibility to insist on the immediate appointment of an Auditor General. He urged the President to act without delay and appoint a suitably qualified individual to restore financial accountability, transparency, and constitutional compliance at a time when the nation can least afford oversight failures.
