📈 CoPA Flags North Western PC Project Irregularities & Directs Recovery of Rs. 85 Mn Arrears

• The Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) has raised serious concerns over procedural and financial irregularities in the North Western Provincial Council’s six-storey office building project in Kurunegala. • Project Status: Construction is currently suspended due to a supervisory inquiry. • Key Flaws: CoPA noted the absence of a mandatory feasibility study and questioned the necessity of the 'Design and Build' procurement process, suggesting it unnecessarily increased the financial burden. • Directives: CoPA directed that all procurement documents and related project records be submitted to the Auditor General within one month and summoned relevant officials for further examination. • Financial Accountability: CoPA highlighted that approximately Rs. 85 million in tax arrears remain unrecovered due to supervisory shortcomings, instructing a report on the total recoverable amount by year's end. • Other Issues: The Provincial Land Commissioner's Dept. was criticised for poor record-keeping of State lands (including leased lands and rental arrears). CoPA also reviewed loan recovery efforts for funds distributed to paddy-producing co-operative societies.