Sri Lanka’s controversial CB bond issue to come up under COPE scrutiny
View(s):Sri Lanka’s controversial Central Bank bond issue is likely to come up under the investigation of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) again, official sources revealed.COPE headed by JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti has to take a decision on the re-opening of the probe into bond issue publish a report and take appropriate action against those who were responsible if there was any irregularity in the procedure, a senior government official said.
The failure to implement the recommendations of the COPE on state institutions is to be rectified by the new committee for the sake of good governance, he added.COPE head JVP MP Handunnetti told the Business Times that members of the committee has not taken a decision as yet to investigate the CB bond issue again.Members of COPE should make a request to re-start the probe into bond issue he said adding that the committee aims to eradicate bribery and corruption in state institutions over public funds under his chairmanship.
A special committee of COPE was appointed on 22 May compromising 13 members under the chairmanship of former Minister D .E.W. Gunasekera and they have prepared a 447 page report with recommendations in which the evidence given by 47 witnesses.Mr. Gunasekera has planned to table the interim report in parliament on July 7 but it has not happened due to the dissolution of parliament.Sri Lanka’s parliament has launched this inquiry into the controversial bond deal after the main opposition party said an initial investigation carried out by a committee appointed by 100 day government that cleared the central bank chief of any direct role was not independent.