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Financial statements signed by dead accountant, dummy reports and pictures submitted

Some 150 political parties have applied to the Election Commission for registration, but the EC is only interviewing officials of less than two dozen parties while the others have been rejected outright.

It transpired that some parties had submitted dummy financial reports and false annual reports to meet the requirements.

Most of them were rejected outright for failing to meet registration criteria in addition to documentation errors. The Commission is carefully examining the applications for such errors and party representatives were told of the reasons for the rejection during the formal interview.

Prof Ratnajeevan Hoole, who is from the academic background and one of the three members of the Commission, is among those sitting on the interview panel. He insists on verifying and double checking documents.

It was found one party submitted an application along with the audit financial reports of the last three years, certified by a registered accountant, but the accountant, who happened to be known to a Commissioner, passed away a couple of years ago.

Worst still, another party submitted a shady audit report with the official rubber stamp of another accountant. When Commission officials called the accountant, he said he was not aware of auditing such reports in recent past.

Then there was this brand new book with an impressive cover. It was submitted by a party which claimed the book contained reports of party activities during the past several years. By checking the barcode pasted on the back cover, Commission officials found the book had been bought one year ago.

Another political party attached some images to show how it worked for the betterment of the people during the COVID-19 crisis by donating dry rations. Following a careful analysis, it was found those pictures were taken during the tsunami disaster some fifteen years ago. All those applications were rejected outright.

If only I had powers to punish fraudsters: JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivering his speech in Parliament

Hard-hitting 50-minute speech by JVP leader

With Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs walking out in protest over the swearing in of Premalal Jayasekara as an MP, it was left to minor parties in the Opposition to carry forward the debate on the Annual Report of the Central Bank. The absence of SJB MPs in Parliament on Tuesday gave the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) extra time to speak in the debate.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake used it expertly to deliver a hard-hitting speech lasting more than 50 minutes.

Mr. Dissanayake’s comments during the speech about punishing corrupt MPs drew jeers from the Government ranks. Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando accused Mr. Dissanayake of being part of the Yahapalana Government that threw Opposition MPs in prison. “You put us in prison. You were focused on putting us in prison and not allowing us to come to Parliament,” he told the JVP leader.

“If I had the power to punish fraudsters and criminals, I know that the vast majority of MPs in this Parliament would not be here. I know that even now, there would not be anyone in this Parliament to rise up and speak against me,” Mr Dissanayake quipped, adding that he regretted not having such power.

State bank chief blasted

A political boss has castigated the head of a state bank for giving a broad range of benefits to a private company.

The company chief, they say, used his clout as the top-runger in a state body to win the concessions.

House search for MPs

Parliamentarians have complained of a lack of modern facilities in the 36-year-old MPs’ residential complex in Madiwela and this has led to a search for apartments in and around Parliament area, a senior government official said.

The 125 unit Madiwela housing complex located in a four acre land, is in need of renovation that will take about 2-3 years to complete, he said adding that MPs would need to reside closer to Parliament until renovation was completed.

He said the proposal in this regard has been forwarded to the government.

Meanwhile, new MPs have complained they are yet to receive official residences as 30 previous MPs have not moved out.

What a shame, suicide was a show for them

About 15 motorists have been issued with fine tickets in Katugastota after they were found watching and some taking videos of a girl committing suicide by jumping to the Mahaweli River from the Katugastota new bridge.

The motorists were issued with 2000-rupee fine tickets, as they were blocking the bridge. Meanwhile about 300 persons are reported to have been witnessing the incident, with some video recording using their phones without attempting to save the girl or even calling police for help.

Later, a traffic police officer informed Katugastota police and the body was recovered by divers. Katugastota Police Inspector W.M.S. Uvindasiri has reprimanded the onlookers for not fulfilling their duties as responsible citizens.