Wednesday 11 November 2026Wed 11 Nov 2026
Sri Lanka’s public sector operates under an extensive framework of financial regulations, procurement guidelines, treasury circulars, internal controls, and audit requirements. Despite these safeguards, similar audit observations continue to recur in the sector, according to a commentary by Indrajith Karunarathna.
The cabinet approved a project on 15 September 2026 to construct a building with modern facilities for the University of Jaffna's Faculty of Allied Health Sciences. Bids have subsequently been invited under the National Competitive Procurement Procedure to select a suitable contractor to implement the project.
Plans are underway to install CCTV cameras at every police station across the country, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler announced on 1 November. He said the Inspector General has initiated procurement for the project, which will establish an islandwide surveillance system to directly monitor operations and strengthen oversight of police activities. Wootler noted that some of the country's 609 police stations are already equipped with cameras. He added that because stations are public places visited at any time, the project aims to provide better service for society.
On 27 October 2026, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that it indicted MP Namal Rajapaksa and others before the Permanent Trial-at-Bar on 24 charges. Rajapaksa is accused of accepting a Rs. 100 million bribe in connection with a 2013 SriLankan Airlines Airbus procurement. The prosecution submitted a list of 59 witnesses. While Aruna and Lankadeepa reported four defendants in total, Divaina stated five others were indicted alongside Rajapaksa, including Shamindra Rajapaksa and Brunei-registered Bis Solutions. Following an order by Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, Rajapaksa appeared before the three-judge High Court bench on 28 October, which ordered him produced again on 19 November.
Following a contempt application filed on 12 October 2026 by Transparency International Sri Lanka, the Supreme Court directed four respondents in a medical procurement case to pay their outstanding compensation within three months and imposed travel bans. A 27 March 2026 judgment had ordered five respondents, including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former Health Secretary S. J. S. Chandraguptha, to pay Rs. 275 million to the State for fundamental rights violations. Former National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairman Prof. S. D. Jayaratne paid his Rs. 50 million order on 22 October 2026. Rambukwella paid Rs. 20 million of his Rs. 75 million penalty, undertaking to pay the remainder within two weeks. Chandraguptha, former NMRA CEO Dr. Vijith Gunasekara, and former Medical Supplies Division Director Dr. A. Thusitha Sudharshana gave undertakings for their remaining Rs. 50 million shares before the court granted bail and mandated full payment within three months.
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has raised serious concerns over alleged procurement irregularities, misuse of public assets, and financial losses at the Southern Provincial Council (SPC). The issues include the auctioning of an asphalt production machine without properly accounting for stocks of bitumen and diesel. The matter came under scrutiny during a recent COPA meeting chaired by an MP.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and four others for failing to comply with a court order issued on March 27. The Supreme Court had ordered Rambukwella to pay Rs. 75 million to the State, and former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandraguptha, former NMRA Chairman Professor S.D. Jayaratne, former NMRA CEO Dr. Vijith Gunasekara, and former Medical Supplies Division Director to each pay Rs. 50 million, over fundamental rights violations linked to irregular medicine procurement. TISL alleges the respondents have not made the payments, constituting wilful disobedience. The petition, filed under Article 105(3) of the Constitution and the Contempt of Court Act No. 8 of 2024, seeks appropriate legal action against the five respondents.
People’s Struggle Movement activist Wasantha Mudalige yesterday alleged serious irregularities in the tender process initiated to purchase 500 body cameras for police officers. Addressing a press conference at the Frontline Socialist Party headquarters in Nugegoda, Mudalige detailed his concerns regarding the procurement. Consequently, he called for the entire process to be cancelled and restarted.
Wednesday 11 November 2026Wed 11 Nov 2026
