• Says procuring fuel and coal should be entrusted to the Opposition

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera 

Steps were being taken to conduct a forensic audit on the activities of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in addition to the CID investigation, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said yesterday.

He told Parliament that Cabinet approval would be sought to select a suitable company for the forensic audit. The minister said this in response to a claim by former minister Champika Ranawaka, who said that the Auditor General should be entrusted with the task rather than complaining to the CID over irregularities of the CPC.
The Minister also said that the process of procuring fuel and coal should be entrusted to the Opposition through a Parliamentary committee appointed on the matter.

He said a committee should be set up in Parliament on the procurement of fuel and coal and its chairmanship should be handed over to the Opposition.

The Minister said opposition MPs including former minister Champika Ranawaka had claimed that fuel could be provided at lower rates.

“I propose to the Speaker to appoint a committee on procurement of fuel and coal. Its chairmanship should be given to the Opposition. I request an opposition MP to take over the responsibility,” he said.
Parliamentarian Champika Ranawaka said he was ready to take over the responsibility as demanded by the minister.