The Constitutional Council has rejected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recommendation to extend the tenure of the Acting Auditor General by an additional three months.
The decision comes amid allegations that the Acting Auditor General had accepted six tickets from a state bank to attend the Kandy Dalada Perahera. The opposition and civil society representatives voted against the extension after the National Audit Office announced that the same state bank would be subjected to an audit.
As a result of the Council’s refusal to approve the President’s proposal, the post of Auditor General has now fallen vacant. The President is required to submit a new nominee to the Constitutional Council for approval.
Acting Auditor General H.D. Dharmapala Gammanpila has three and a half years remaining until retirement.
Meanwhile, the terms of the civil society members of the Constitutional Council will expire in January 2026, necessitating the appointment of new members.
The recommendation was taken up by the Constitutional Council on Friday under the chairmanship of Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
Five members voted against the proposal, while four voted in favour. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP Ajith Perera, and civil society representatives Dr. Anula Wijesundara, Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, and Dinesha Samararatne cast their votes against the extension.
