Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman has accused the National People’s Power (NPP)-led Government of deliberately delaying the appointment of an Auditor General, alleging that the administration has abandoned the commitments it made ahead of the election.

Speaking to the media, Rahman said the continued failure to appoint an Auditor General had rendered the Government’s pre-election pledges on public service reform, auditing, and transparency meaningless.

“The appointment of the Auditor General is being repeatedly delayed. Everything this Government spoke about before coming to power — about the public service, auditing, and transparency — has now been conveniently forgotten by the President. It is now very clear to us that the Government is intentionally avoiding appointing an Auditor General,” he said.

Rahman pointed out that from 2025 onwards, Government ministries and state institutions are due to come under audit scrutiny, suggesting this as a key reason behind the delay.

“That is why it appears the Government is trying to bring in one of its own allies and appoint that person as Auditor General,” he alleged.

He further noted that all candidates proposed by the President for the post had been rejected, arguing that those nominations did not reflect individuals with the required expertise or familiarity with the scope of the role.

“At the same time, there are officials within the Auditor General’s Department itself with nearly 30 years of experience and proven competence. Yet, their names are not being proposed. Instead, external individuals with political affiliations are being put forward, and the appointment is being deliberately stalled,” Rahman said.

According to the SJB MP, the prolonged vacancy has triggered a serious crisis in the State’s audit and oversight mechanisms.

“At present, the COPE committee is not meeting, the COPA committee is not meeting, and multiple crises have emerged within the system due to the absence of proper audit oversight,” he said.

Rahman also accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of attempting to further politicise the public service through the handling of the Auditor General’s appointment.

“There is a clear effort by the President to politicise the public service through this process, and that is now evident to all,” he added.