Speaker to Address USAID Funding Concerns

Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne announced on Friday (14) that he would take necessary action regarding concerns raised by MPs about USAID funding in Sri Lanka.

The issue was brought up by Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who asked for clarification on whether a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) would be formed to look into claims of unethical USAID funding in the country.

Parliamentarian Dayasiri  Jayasekara referred to a letter sent by SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, who had called for such a committee. He asked if the matter would be formally examined.In response, Speaker Wickramaratne confirmed that he would take appropriate action on the matter, though he did not provide specific details.

This comes amid increasing concerns within the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party about foreign funding. On the same day, US Ambassador Julie Chung visited the SLPP headquarters for a meeting with party representatives. The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, followed a request from the SLPP for discussions on various issues, including concerns about foreign aid.During her visit,

 Ambassador Chung met with SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, former MPs Sanjeewa Edirimanne, C.B. Ratnayake, and Jayantha Ketagoda, as well as current MP D.V. Chanaka and Milinda Rajapaksha, advisor to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The focus of the talks was reported to include concerns over USAID’s role in Sri Lanka.

The issue of USAID funding has gained attention after SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa called for a parliamentary investigation into who receives USAID assistance in Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa and other party members have expressed concerns about the possible influence of foreign aid on the country’s politics

US Court Decision on USAID 

On the global stage, a recent ruling in the United States has also brought attention to foreign aid. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for foreign aid contractors that had been affected by a 90-day funding freeze. This freeze had been implemented by Trump’s administration and had halted many foreign aid contracts, including those from USAID. The judge's ruling temporarily blocks the administration from canceling these contracts.The situation highlights the ongoing debate about foreign aid and its impact, both in Sri Lanka and internationally. Speaker Wickramaratne’s statement signals that the issue will continue to be a topic of discussion in Sri Lanka’s Parliament.