COPE recommends legal action to reclaim SLIIT over unlawful privatisation

THE Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has recommended that legal steps be taken to take over the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), which previously belonged to the Mahapola Trust Fund as an institution administered by the Mahapola Trust Fund, citing its transformation into a fully private entity was carried out unlawfully.

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During a recent Committee session, the COPE highlighted serious procedural and legal lapses in the 2015 transfer, which it says undermined State oversight of a once-public higher education asset.

It also raised concerns over broader governance issues within the Mahapola Trust Fund, including financial mismanagement, vacant key posts, and the need to expand scholarship access to deserving students.

Accordingly, COPE Chair Dr.

Nishantha Samaraweera made this recommendation to Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah and Mahapola Trust Fund Chairperson former Justice Vijith Malalgoda.

This recommendation was made during a COPE meeting held last week (9), when the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund was summoned before the Committee to examine the Auditor General's reports for the years 2022 and 2023 and its current performance.