The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) gives deadlines to various institutions to implement its recommendations, and on constant follow up, said COPE Chairman, Prof. Ranjith Bandara.

Various parties including political parties have been alleging over the past that although Committees such as the COPE summon State institutions before them and make recommendations for issues investigated, most of them are not implemented.

The Daily Morning queried from Prof. Bandara as to whether the COPE monitors whether the relevant recommendations are implemented, and he said: "Of course, we always follow up if the recommendations that we make are implemented. We always give a deadline to implement the recommendations given in relation to State institutions. Therefore, we check if they are implemented by that date or not, and if it is delayed, what are the reasons for it."

When questioned as to whether there is a need to introduce any new legal provisions to ensure that the COPE's recommendations are implemented, he said that there is no such need. "The necessary provisions for the implementation of the recommendations we make have already been received through the Standing Orders of the Parliament. Therefore, there is no need for new legal provisions."

The duty of the COPE, which consists of members nominated by the Committee of Selection, is to examine the accounts of public corporations and of any business undertaking vested in the Government. It has the power to summon before them and question any person, call for and examine any paper, book, record or other document and to have access to stores and property.

Meanwhile, Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne recently said that Parliamentary Committees which are looking into irregularities and corruption such as the COPE should be given powers to refer their findings to institutions such as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Attorney General's Department.