Bond commission serves summons on former Finance Minister
The Presidential Commission probing alleged Central Bank bond scams in Feb. 2015 and March 2016 has summoned former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, MP, to appear before it early this week.
Summons have been served on Karunanayake, who now holds foreign affairs portfolio, over the weekend, well informed sources told The Island.
The presidential commission comprises Supreme court judges, K.T. Chitrasiri and PS Jayawardena and retired deputy Auditor General K.Velupillai.
UNP Minister Karunanayake is the first political heavyweight summoned by the Presidential Commission appointed in January this year.
Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera PC has informed the Presidential Commission that the recording of evidence of state witnesses by the Attorney General’s Department would be concluded by July 31, 2017.
The Presidential Commission has summoned over a dozen key witnesses, including Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe as well as former Chairman of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Dew Gunasekera and his successor Sunil Handunetti.
Sources emphasised that Karunanayake had been summoned because he held the finance portfolio during President Maithripala Sirisena’s 100-day programme.
The legal team representing Perpetual Treasuries last week informed the Presidential Commission that the company would call one ‘exciting’ witness to give evidence on their behalf but didn’t name him.
Responding to a query by journalists after the commissions proceedings, a State Counsel said that the witness to be summoned at the next sitting would surprise everyone.
After the Perpetual Treasuries’ witness concludes giving evidence former Chairman of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran will be summoned to give evidence.
The Auditor General has estimated the direct losses suffered by the government by the deal at Rs 1.6 bn. However, the indirect losses amounted to Rs 10 bn in addition to the direct losses.
The sittings will resume at 10.00 a.m. today.
(Source: The Island – By Shamindra Ferdinando)
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Hey, no worries mate.
You will come out with flying colours and following that, the Commissioners are likely to depart!
Not only Bond issues all other cases relating to fraud, corruption, money laundering, murders should come to a decision fast and quick. From then onwards the country could be developed
id love to see this guy even for a day to be seen prison garb as a privilege it should be made of horse hair as usual belt free oversize wrap around shorts no underpants.
Are the prosecutors sure of what the allegations are ….NO for the whole thing is a big conspiracy centered round the prime minister and even the messenger sirisena and then if found guilty what is face going to be!
Historically has witnessed several revolutions and their wake has been bloody millions were exterminated and few more persecuted. It is a fact that the French had designed the guillotine. which was fast and effecient. This may sound grotesque but then the government cannot set them free to conspire. At least this would send a message to those who are expected to serve the people …beware
This is just another distraction.
The Commission will produce a report which will either gather dust on a bookshelf or be sent to the sleepy AG for prosecution which will never happen.
Corruption is a way of life as said by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and chasing corruption using state resources is money down the drain.
Does anyone reckon there is no corruption in the developed world? Well, corruption is prevalent there too, in more sophisticated forms! As long as humankind’s cravings for possessions are not overcome, corruption will prevail.
Hon Ravi K is an energetic politician with immense potential. It is a shame he was removed from Finance and moved to Foreign Affairs and Lotteries. Whoever made that decision is a dumb-nut who knows not what he is doing.
This incident of the Bond Scam is just another kerfuffle caused by the leader at the top. Ravi has the potential and capability to overcome this trial.
Best of luck Ravi, we are with you.
Don’t you have any honest politicians in Sri Lanka. As one shop keeper told me ” May rate inna loku eka idala podi eka okkoma horu”. I agree with him
Well we have to bill more prisons rather than hospitals and schools etc.