CB bond scam - Opposition urges Speaker to table forensic audit

The Opposition today urged Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to table the reports of the forensic audit on the Central Bank bond scam without delay.

Opposition MP Harsha De Silva said reports of the forensic audit on the Central Bank bond scam have been submitted to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and requested the Speaker to table the reports as COPE had not been re-constituted yet.

MP Ravi Karunanayake said five reports of the forensic audit on bond scams from 2005 were submitted to the COPE.

He said the reports should be tabled in Parliament so that those who were involved in the bond scam would be revealed to the people.

MP Ajith P. Perera said Rs.900 million was spent on preparing the reports of the forensic audit and that it was done by an independent foreign firm covering the transactions even before 2015.

Former COPE Chairman Sunil Hadunnetti said the Central Bank Governor had submitted the reports to the COPE with a covering letter from the Attorney General which had authorized only the COPE and subject minister to deal with the reports.

He said there was no way to table the reports as the COPE was defunct now and added that reports were kept at the COPE Secretariat unopened.

He requested the speaker to appoint the COPE without delay and take steps to table the reports.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa said Central Bank was looted by the previous government and added that legal action would be taken against them and pointed out that the reports would be presented in Parliament.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the matter would be discussed at the next party leaders meeting and necessary steps taken. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)