Speaking further about the matter, he expressed disapproval of taking steps to appoint to the post of AG a friend of the Government from the University of Kelaniya who has questionable experience concerning the AG post, remains a member of the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and is connected with the National People’s Power. This, he added, is despite the existence of a Senior Deputy AG with 30 years of experience in the AG’s Department.
“Although the attempt to make the appointment of the AG a political one was defeated at the CC, there is a critical discourse in the society about the matter,” Jayamaha added.
Meanwhile, claiming that the CC’s rejection of the name proposed for the post of the AG could create the perception of an attempt to politicise the appointment, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) has urged the Government to act wisely and transparently in making such a key decision.
It was reported on Wednesday (21) that the name nominated by President Dissanayake for the AG post was not approved by the CC. Responding to this, the NMSJ stated that in moments like these, it is important for the Government to handle matters with care and not take any action that goes against the Constitution.
In a statement which was shared with The Daily Morning, NMSJ Leader and former Speaker of the Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya noted that one of the primary duties of the CC is to ensure that individuals appointed to high-level state positions are independent and qualified. While the public may not always be fully aware of the credentials of those nominated – whether from inside the AG’s Department or from outside – he said that the Government must take seriously the reasons as to why the CC did not approve the nominee.
He warned that failing to do so could damage public trust and even affect how the international community views Sri Lanka’s commitment to good governance. “This kind of situation may raise doubts about whether there is an attempt to politicise what should remain an independent and neutral post. Such actions could also reflect poorly on the President and affect the country’s credibility with foreign investors and international institutions like the International Monetary Fund, especially at a time when Sri Lanka is trying to rebuild its economy.”
Jayasuriya pointed to a similar situation during the previous administration, when an attempt to appoint an Apex Court Judge was halted due to backlash from the civil society – a reminder, he said, of the importance of listening to public and institutional concerns. He urged the Government to ensure that the independence, integrity, and competence of individuals in such roles are not compromised, especially at a time when the country is facing multiple crises.
23 May 2025 | BY Sumudu Chamara and Buddhika Samaraweera/The Morning
AG saga: Another litmus test for Govt
As of late, functioning without a definitive authoritative figure at the helm has become somewhat of a second nature for Sri Lankan governance. Not so long ago, the country had a ‘ghost’ Police Chief whom no one could find, but the Police work kept on going. Following the Presidential Election, the whole country functioned without having a proper government and a strong Cabinet high in number, just like how it has been in the past governments. The Local Government effectively stopped functioning many months ago, but the workload was somehow managed till the recent Local Government Election was held. The latest in the trend is the Auditor General (AG) saga, or the lack thereof, amidst political controversy. The post has been vacant for over 42 days, and the latest nominee for the post of AG by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been rejected by the Constitutional Council (CC) by a majority vote.
The issue has been a topic of major discussion in Parliament. While raising their concerns over the President’s nomination, the Opposition MPs questioned the lack of experience of the recently-rejected nominee and the Government’s lack of respect for the usual procedure of appointment. The age-old tradition at the Auditor General’s Office has been to opt for the most experienced and most senior officer working at the office with regard to the appointment of the AG. While there already exists a suitable candidate who ticks all the above-mentioned boxes at the office, the nomination of an ‘outsider’ whose amount of experience is humbled before arguably the best candidate has become a point of argument and moreover, the educational history of the nominee as well as his current state of employment has also raised some causes for concern. The fact that the nominee is currently employed at Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) – a State-run enterprise often subjected to audits by the AG’s Department – is argued to be a huge conflict of interest if he is appointed as the AG and the Opposition argues that it would be a serious ethical violation and a severe assault on public trust if the appointment made through. Moreover, the fact that the nominee and the President have studied at the University of Kelaniya at the same time has been used as grounds for political affiliation behind the nomination.
The duties and responsibilities of an AG are of national importance. Under the leadership of the AG, the AG’s Department should provide independent reviews of the performance and accountability of the public sector institutions and should report to Parliament. While aiming to meet the needs and expectations of Parliament, the Executive and its clients and to add value to public sector performance and accountability, the AG’s Department reviews shall remain independent to ensure compliance with all the statutory and other regulatory requirements as well as to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the operations. The alleged political affiliations between the nominee and the President cast some serious doubts over the AG’s Department’s capability to maintain integrity, transparency, independence, and compliance.
In a nutshell, the curious case of the AG’s appointment once again proves that the power bestowed upon the Government by the citizens of the country isn’t an absolute one but rather a test of the purity, transparency, accountability and integrity it loves to boast of. Gone are the days when people looked the other way and took the apparent nepotism in political appointments for granted. While the previous governments might have had that luxury, both within Parliament as well as among the public consensus, the current Government cannot simply afford to be complacent in decision-making and hope for unconditional backing. Starting from the Speaker saga, every decision the Government makes is a litmus test of the virtues it swears to cultivate in governance and not just the Opposition but the people as well are eyeing every step and every decision the Government makes. Every decision the Government takes is monitored, every mistake it makes is emphasised, and even the smallest slip of the tongue by a Government MP is made a big deal out of, particularly on social media, simply because the expectations are high. Unlike previous governments where the ‘lesser devil’ was often elected, the people have arguably opted for the best option this time around and demand perfection in return. Irrespective of whether the allegations levelled by the Opposition hold water or not, the Government should keep in mind that integrity and transparency are expected of every decision it makes, and lethargy would only lead to doubt and a drop in popularity.