“Deliberate Sabotage”: Minister Nalinda Slams Constitutional Council Over Auditor General Vacancy
By Lions Roar News Political Desk
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (December 30, 2025) – Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has launched a scathing attack on the Constitutional Council (CC), accusing the body of overstepping its legal mandate and acting on “narrow motives” to disrupt the state machinery.
The Minister’s remarks come as the country faces a critical leadership vacuum in the National Audit Office, which has remained without a permanent head for several months following the retirement of former Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne in April.
🚫 Four Nominations, Four Rejections
During today’s Cabinet press briefing, Minister Jayatissa revealed that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has already submitted the names of four highly qualified individuals to the Constitutional Council, only to have them rejected.
The President’s Case:
- Qualified Professionals: The Minister emphasized that all nominees were Chartered Accountants, fulfilling the constitutional requirement for the post.
- Seniority Respected: Two of the nominations were for the most senior audit officers currently serving within the National Audit Office.
- Constitutional Duty: Jayatissa argued that the President has acted strictly within his executive powers, while the CC is behaving as if it has the right to “handpick” candidates rather than vetting those sent by the President.
“The Constitutional Council has no right to reject a qualified name simply because they believe someone else ‘better’ exists outside. If the nominee meets the constitutional criteria, the Council should act. Their refusal suggests a deliberate attempt to sabotage the state’s functioning,” the Minister stated.
📉 Impact of the Vacancy
The absence of an Auditor General is not merely a procedural issue; it has stalled vital oversight during a time of national recovery.
- Audit Disruptions: Investigations into several state institutions for 2024 and 2025 are reportedly delayed.
- Lack of Oversight: Parliamentary committees like COPE and COPA are hindered without the independent reports usually provided by the Auditor General.
- Disaster Spending: Critics, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), have warned that with massive funds being spent on Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction, the lack of an Auditor General creates a significant transparency risk.
⚖️ A Clash of Powers
The standoff highlights a growing tension between the Executive and the Constitutional Council. While the Council was designed to act as a check on presidential power, the government now views its current composition—which includes opposition and civil society members—as an obstacle to governance.
“We urge the Constitutional Council to act according to the powers vested in them by the Constitution and think about the progress of the country rather than operating within narrow limits,” Jayatissa concluded.
