Twenty two (22) out of the 26 members were present at yesterday’s meeting. Deputy Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe and MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage were not present.
Senasinghe’s appointment should be confirmed by the Speaker before he attends COPE meetings.
The copies of the report of the previous COPE Subcommittee on the Central Bank Treasury Bond investigations were distributed among all members of the COPE yesterday.
The previous COPE subcommittee report contains evidences given before the Committee by the officials summoned before it to inquire into the allegations of Treasury Bonds issuance in February 2015.
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday interrogated Deputy Central Bank Governors Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and P. Samarasiri and other high ranking officials over the procedure taken at the controversial Treasury bond sales on February 27, 2015 and March 29, 2016.
COPE sources said most details given in the Auditor General’s report were compatible with the answers provided by CB high ranking officials. The COPE met Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Monetary Board officials at the Parliamentary Complex.
Dr. Coomaraswamy had pointed out the importance of acting with transparency to protect the people’s trust on the Central Bank. He pledged his support to COPE investigations. Dr. Coomaraswamy also briefed COPE members of his plans for future activities of the CB.
COPE sources said the majority of members of the COPE were against UNP MPs’ move seeking the expert opinion on the Auditor General’s report.
The COPE investigates many institutions, not just the CB. At all those instances, COPE investigations are based on the Auditor General’s report. If the AG’s reports are accepted at all those occasions, why hesitate to accept his report on the CB?” a COPE member argued. The UNP COPE members who moved to get expert opinion on the Auditor General’s report appeared disappointed, said COPE sources.
Asked on the access to the AG’s full report handed over to the Speaker, the COPE member said it is available for their reference whenever necessary but not to make it public.
