COPE Exposes Rs. 15M Loss Over Unlawful Dismissal

COLOMBO (News 1st); A staggering Rs. 15 million in public funds has been spent by the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) in connection with legal proceedings following the dismissal of a senior official without a formal disciplinary inquiry, according to revelations made at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

The issue came to light during a COPE session held yesterday (8), where CIDA officials were summoned to discuss the institution’s progress and internal governance. 

COPE Chairman Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera questioned the rationale behind the dismissal of the former Director of Finance in October 2021, without initiating a proper disciplinary process.

It was revealed that the dismissal was based on allegations related to the misuse of vehicle allowances, despite no internal investigation or formal charge sheet being presented. 

The decision was signed off by the then Director General, bypassing standard procedures.

Following the dismissal, the former official filed legal action against the authority. 

The case, which extended over several years, resulted in a court ruling in favor of the dismissed employee, ordering reinstatement.

However, the authority chose to pursue further legal avenues, ultimately withdrawing the case after incurring Rs. 15 million in legal expenses.

COPE members, including Samanmali Gunasinghe, raised serious concerns over the lack of accountability and the absence of internal reviews before escalating the matter to court.

Legal Officer Shandalee Alwis confirmed that no institutional-level investigation had been conducted prior to the dismissal.

The committee also criticized the delay in ongoing disciplinary inquiries within the authority, some of which have remained unresolved since 2023, citing administrative inefficiencies and internal conflicts.

COPE emphasized that such decisions, driven by personal bias or internal power struggles, have led to significant financial losses and undermined public trust in state institutions.

The committee called for urgent reforms in disciplinary procedures and governance practices within CIDA.