• Says most applications for membership from retirees

In the wake of allegations that independent commissions have become ineffective due to retirees being appointed as their members, Chairman of the Constitutional Council (CC), Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said that it is mostly retirees who are applying for such posts.

The CC is responsible for the appointment of commission members.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Abeywardana said: “It is retired persons who are applying for these positions.” He also said that there is no barrier as per the existing legal provisions for retirees to be appointed to commissions as their members.

Leader of the House and Minister of Education, attorney Dr. Susil Premajayantha said on Wednesday (14) that the recruitment of 54 principals for national schools had been on hold for months due to the inefficiency of the Public Service Commission (PSC). As a result of appointing retired individuals to commissions, he said that they (commissions) have become ineffective. Emphasising that there is no point in establishing commissions if retired officers are appointed to run them, he also said that he would bring the matter up during a Parliamentary session soon.

Several commissions such as the Election Commission, the PSC, the National Police Commission, the Audit Service Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) are currently in operation. Following the recommendations made by the CC, the President is appointing their members. Among these commissions, the CIABOC will no longer consist of retirees as the relevant legal provisions were revised recently.