The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) expressed strong discontent over the Department of Motor Traffic’s lack of preparedness when appearing before the committee. As a result, the officials were turned away and instructed to return fully prepared on a future date.
The incident occurred during a COPA meeting held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senarath. The session was intended to review Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, along with the current performance of the Department of Motor Traffic.
During the proceedings, COPA inquired about the implementation of prior recommendations issued in previous meetings. The Auditor General pointed out that the department had failed to submit a report detailing the status of 25 investigations related to the illegal registration of vehicles before integration with the customs computer system, as well as the disciplinary actions taken against those responsible.
While the department’s officers claimed that a report had been submitted, the Auditor General confirmed that he had not received it. When a copy of the report was tabled for review, he stated that he was completely unsatisfied with its contents.
As the committee questioned the officials at length, they were unable to provide answers, citing that they lacked access to old records. Frustrated by the lack of preparation, COPA decided to halt the meeting, ordering the Department of Motor Traffic officials to return properly prepared for their next appearance.
