The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has raised concerns over the financial administration, wastewater management, research allowance payments and institutional governance of the University of Peradeniya.

The COPE, chaired by Parliamentarian Nishantha Samaraweera reviewed the Auditor General’s reports on the university for 2023 and 2024, as well as its current performance, during a meeting held at the Parliament Complex.

The committee was informed that delays in connecting the university’s wastewater system to the Kandy Municipal Wastewater Project had increased the estimated cost from Rs. 464 million to Rs. 1.4 billion. Officials also informed the committee that Rs. 2 billion in JICA funding had been secured for the project.

COPE also questioned the university over its 68 bank accounts and numerous accounts maintained under various funds, particularly accounts that remained open after the completion of related projects.

Concerns were further raised over the payment of research allowances to 59 non-academic and executive staff members without approval from the Research Management Committee and without obtaining the required research reports, according to a statement issued by the Department of Communication of the Parliament.

The committee stressed that research allowances must be used strictly for research purposes and cannot be treated as additional salaries or remuneration.

COPE also instructed the university to regularize positions and allowances that had not received the required approval from the Department of Management Services and to ensure compliance with government financial regulations.

The committee further called for clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the university’s future development plans and urged the expeditious implementation of projects relating to wastewater and solid-waste management and the construction of a new clinical block, the Department of Communication of the Parliament noted.