Courtesy Hiru News

The Mahanayake Theras of the Three Chapters addressed a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recommending that Dharmapala Gammanpila receive the appointment for the position of Auditor General.

In their formal communication, the prelates emphasised that Gammanpila possesses extensive experience as a senior officer within the Auditor General’s Department, making him the most suitable candidate for the role.

The chief prelates explicitly advised against appointing an officer from outside the department to this critical oversight position, noting that the vacancy has persisted since the retirement of W.P.C. Wickramaratne on April 8, 2024.

Dharmapala Gammanpila previously served in an acting capacity from April 9 until December 5, but a permanent appointment has yet to be finalised. The prelates noted that the absence of a permanent head for several months had allowed various parties to raise concerns about the transparency of state financial management, fueling negative perceptions of the government’s economic programmes.

While the President previously suggested names to the Constitutional Council, those nominations reportedly faced rejection due to concerns over the candidates’ professional capacity for such a significant responsibility.

The Mahanayake Theras stressed that state financial discipline and transparency remain best served by a senior internal official with deep institutional knowledge.

They warned that continued delays in making a permanent appointment could further undermine public trust in state fiscal oversight.