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Bond issue: AG appoints 9-member team to assist Commission of Inquiry
View(s):A 9-member Attorney General’s Department team headed by Senior Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dappula de Livera P.C., has been appointed to assist the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and to look into irregularities in respect of the issuance of Treasury Bonds (TB) including the controversial Central Bank TB issue of February 2015.
The team comprising senior officials of the AG’s Dept, were nominated by AG Jayantha Jayasuriya, P.C., and their names forwarded in writing to the CoI this week.
The team from the AG’s Dept will assist the CoI to lead evidence during its sittings, some of which will be conducted in public, as well as assist with the legal work it will have to undertake, the Sunday Times learns.
The CoI has been given time till February 28, for members of the public to send in written representations, complaints, statements or information relating to any irregularity in the issuance of TBs between February 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016.
The CoI has notified that, when factual matters are referred to, those making the representations should, where possible, support them with affidavits and supporting documents.
The CoI will not accept anonymous submissions and hence, those who send in written submissions, are required to state their names, addresses and contact details. Such persons may be called to give oral submissions, after the CoI examines their submissions.
Secretary to the CoI, Sumathipala Udugamasuriya has notified that, “Every person who gives evidence before the CoI, shall be entitled to the privileges of witnesses and special immunity, as provided for in the CoI Act.
The other members of the team from the AGs Dept are ASG Yasantha Kodagoda P.C., Senior Deputy SG (DSG) Priyantha Nawana, DSG Milinda Gunatillake, DSG Dilan Ratnayaka, Senior State Counsel (SSC) Shaheeda Barrie, SSC Dr Avanthi Perera, SSC Nayomi Wickremasekera and SC D. Kaneshayogan.
Meanwhile, the IGP will soon name a special team of officers from the Police Dept to assist the CoI in its investigations into the TB issue. The 3-member CoI was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena in January, to investigate and inquire into and report on the issuance of TBs during the period of February 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016. Its members are Supreme Court Justices K.T. Chitrasiri and Prasanna Sujeewa Jayawardana and (Rtd) Deputy Auditor General Kandasamy Veluppillai.
Among the matters the CoI will inquire into, will be the management, administration and conduct of affairs of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in respect of the TB issuance during this period and whether, there has been any malpractice or irregularity, or non-compliance with or disregard of the proper procedures applicable to this in relation.
The CoI has the discretionary powers on whether it will conduct pubic sittings or not, when it begins hearings. The CoI has been given 3 months to submit its report.