13. The Committee shall generally have all such powers and rights as are reasonably necessary to carry out the aims and objects set out in section 12, and in particular the power to-
| (a) make inquiries and receive written replies from any Government Department, Government Corporation, local authority, co-operative society, cultivation committee, rural development society or any private non-religious organization which receives or has received funds from the Government, and from any wholesale or retail trading establishment dealing in commodities essential to the life of the community, regarding any matters which, in the opinion of the Committee, are matters relating to the aims and objects of the Committee; |
|
| (b) examine any documents in the custody of any of the bodies mentioned in paragraph (a) (except documents the contents of which are prohibited by any written law from being divulged to the public), take copies thereof and have them certified by the officer or person in whose custody they are, without payment of any fee; |
|
| (c) call upon any of the bodies specified in paragraph (a) to furnish to the Committee certified copies of contracts (including bills of quantities) on which work or payment has not been completed; |
|
| (d) enter any wholesale or trading business establishment dealing in commodities essential to the life of the community during any reasonable hours of the day and examine or inspect any document, equipment or any other article whatsoever, with the permission of the person who for the time being is in charge of such establishment for any purposes relating to the aims and objects of the Committee; |
|
| (e) report any public officer or employee of any Government Corporation or local authority to his immediate superior where the Committee suspects any misconduct or neglect of duty on the part of such officer and to be present at the preliminary inquiry instituted against such officer upon such report; |
|
| (f) report any matter of public importance to an appropriate senior officer of the area and to be present at the preliminary inquiry made by such officer into such matter upon such report, and if not satisfied with the manner or result of such inquiry, to report such matter direct to the appropriate Minister; |
|
| (g) make inquiries or investigations on its own motion or upon representations or complaints made to it by any person in the area of authority, regarding any matter relating to the aims and objects of the Committee; |
|
| (h) make representations to the appropriate Minister on any matter of national importance; |
|
| (i) where the Committee considers it necessary to do so, to institute, in the name of the Chairman or the Secretary of the Committee, criminal proceedings under section 148 (1) (5) of the Criminal Procedure Code; and |
|
| (j) where so requested by any person who makes a statement at a police station, to be present when such statement is recorded at such police station. |
|
|
Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts