16 June 2021 08:44 am Views - 122
By Ajith Siriwardana
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has sought information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) from the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) regarding the opening of Letters of Credit (LCs) to import luxury vehicles for MPs without a Cabinet approval.
Former JVP Western Provincial Councillor and Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala in a letter to the BOC Chairman requested for clarifications on what legal provisions the LCs had been opened.
He pointed out in the letter that LCs had been opened on April 22 whereas the Cabinet paper was presented on May 18, and it was suspended at the next Cabinet meeting on May 24.
He also said that vehicle import has been banned through an extraordinary gazette issued on May 11, 2021.
Mr. Watagala questioned the BOC as to how the LCs were opened when vehicle import has been banned under Imports and Exports Control Regulations and urged it to explain what legal provisions allowed it to proceed with the task despite the ban.
He also requested the bank to provide information on future action regarding the LCs and to reveal who instructed the Bank to open the LCs.