While speculation was rife that the Forensic Audit report conducted on the bond scam had revealed that there have been irregularities pertaining to bond issues since 2005 and the proroguing of parliament was an alleged attempt to prevent this revelation in the House, Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) former Chairman Sunil Handunnetti said proroguing would naturally prevent the document from going public.

A senior member of parliament from the UNP who did not want to be named told Daily Mirror that the forensic audit report had revealed irregularities to the tune of Rs.5,700 billion from 2005. He alleged that this could be a reason as to why parliament was prorogued.

COPE Chief and Member of Parliament Sunil Handunnetti who commented on the matter said he is not aware about the irregularities but the forensic audit had revealed details on bond issues that had taken place since the year 2002.

“I don’t know whether the report had revealed irregularities with regard to bond issues but it had revealed details in bond issues that had taken place since 2002,” he said.

He said the proroguing of parliament had prevented the COPE from taking up the forensic audit for discussions on December 03.

“Prorogue had naturally prevented the COPE from taking up the forensic audit report for discussions in COPE on December 3 and the presentation of it to parliament.

However, we do not know whether forensic audit report was the reason for the decision to prorogue. (Yohan Perera)