Senior MPs from Sri Lanka take part in a 3 day visit the UK Parliament as part of a programme to improve financial oversight in the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 20 – 22 February.

The programme, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) in partnership with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), includes meetings with the National Audit Office (NAO) and Her Majesty’s Treasury to explore UK public financial oversight and share international good practice.

The Sri Lankan delegates are all members of the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and include Committee Chair Hon. Sunil Handunnetti MP, State Minister of Science, Technology and Research Hon. Lakshman Senewiratne MP, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake MP and Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage MP.

COPE is one of two financial committees in Parliament of Sri Lanka. Its remit is to examine the accounts of public corporations and of any business initiative owned by the Government.

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chair, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti MP said:

“Effective parliamentary committees are vital parts of healthy democracies.

“I am delighted to be part of this programme which provides a platform for the exchange of knowledge and good practice on public financial oversight between UK and Sri Lankan Members.”

CPA UK and WFD Programme

Meetings with UK parliamentarians include Richard Bacon MP, Chris Evans MP, Rt Hon. Sir Kevin Barron MP, Karl Turner MP and the Chair and Vice Chairs of the Sri Lanka All Party Parliamentary Group. Delegates will also take part in sessions on media relations and committee report writing.

The visit follows a February 2016 workshop on Sectoral Oversight Committees CPA UK organised in partnership with Parliament of Sri Lanka and WFD and two programmes for Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) Chairs held in October 2016 and January 2017.