IMF tells Govt. to fulfil condition by 30 June

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told the government to put in place a mechanism before 30 June to levy a surcharge on state officials found to be involved in financial irregularities.

This requirement is one of the key conditions laid down for Sri Lanka.

Previously, it was recommended the attorney general took charge of the surcharge levying process.

Now, the task is to be handed over to an independent committee to be appointed by the Constitutional Council on the AG’s recommendations.

Without a representation from the national audit office, the five-member panel is to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

Among its other members will be a retired official of state finances and a representative of the institute of chartered accountants.

The levying of this surcharge is applicable to officials of ministries, departments, corporations, statutory boards and state-owned companies.

Every time IMF officials visited Sri Lanka, they met former AG Chulantha Wickramaratne and stressed the need to eliminate corruption in order for the disbursement of the fund facility.