Audit report called for 'bond' issue – Cabraal to COPE

SATURDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2016

It is reported that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE)  has decided to summon former officials of the Central Bank and its former Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal to question them on several illegal transactions carried out through the Central Bank during former regime and to call for an audit report on the bond transaction that was carried out in February last year.

COPE is to question regarding several transactions that were revealed when the Governor of the Central Bank Arjun Mahendran was summoned to COPE to questioned him. It has been revealed that the Central Bank had arbitrarily bought buildings in Brazil and the USA and have rented them out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a building in Sri Lanka has been rented out for the Colombo Port City project. It is reported that Sri Lanka Central Bank has no authority to rent out buildings.

It is expected to question regarding Rs.4 billion said to have spent on getting advisory services and money spent on logistic services for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

COPE has decided to carry out investigations regarding the bond issue of the Central Bank based on the recommendations of the committee appointed for investigations earlier.

The earlier COPE committee headed by Mr. DEW Gunasekera carried out an investigation regarding the Central Bank bond issue  and the new committee headed by JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi has commenced a new investigation.

It is reported that a decision would be taken regarding the bond issue within two weeks.