UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday demanded the Speaker to table the forensic report on the controversial bond scam in Parliament despite the legal impediment set by the Attorney General.
Karunanayake said the Speaker was now responsible for the forensic report with the term of the Committee On Public Enterprises (CoPE) coming to an end on December 3. He said, “I propose to re-appoint MP Sunil Handunnetti to the CoPE. The forensic audit report, which contains five parts should be tabled in Parliament without delay.”
Agreeing with Karunanayake, MP Ajith Perera noted that Rs.900 million was borne by the Central Bank to prepare the forensic audit report. “This is a report prepared by international independent audit firms. The CoPE, as well as the Presidential Investigations Committee, recommended submitting the forensic report, which highlights with details of the actual culprits and the duration of crime. People do have a right to know the details of the forensic audit report. We believe the controversial bond scam was there even before 2015,” he said.
Explaining the legal issues the CoPE faced to delay the forensic audit report from coming out, JVP lawmaker Sunil Handunnetti said: “Governor of the Central Bank (CBSL) submitted the forensic report to the CoPE on November 27 and the report was to be tabled in Parliament on December 3. There was an endorsement received from the Attorney General restricting access to the report other than the Minister and the CoPE members.
“I decided the summon CoPE members on December 3 having considered the legal barrier. With the prorogation on Parliament, the CoPE came to an end. It is essential to appoint members to CoPE who could decide the fate of the forensic report despite the ongoing legal procedures.”
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