By Shamindra Ferdinando Parliamentary watchdog-COPA (Committee on Public Accounts), in its latest report has highlighted significant loss of revenue and misuse of public money caused by the failure on the part of the Department of Inland Revenue, Sri Lanka Customs and Department of Excise to streamline their operations. COPA Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitarana presented his first report to Parliament on July 20. The COPA consists of 22 members representing both the government and the Opposition. The COPA report dealt with the Auditor General’s reports on Department of Inland Revenue, Sri Lanka Customs and Department of Excise. Pointing out that as at July 31, 2020, there had been 281 vacancies (10 percent of the approved cadre), the all-party committee asserted that failure to fill 183 senior level vacancies in the Inland Revenue Department would hinder the smooth functioning of the institution.