PRECIFAC waits on President’s instructions to take legal action

By Shanika Sriyananda

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) has handed over its third interim report to the President’s Secretary P.B. Abyekoon, last Friday.

PRECIFAC Secretary Lacille De Silva told the Daily FT that the third interim report of the Commission was submitted together with the final report of misusing of state funds on alleged Negombo Lagoon development project.

Former Deputy Minister of Fisheries Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, was earlier questioned by the PRECIFAC over his alleged involvement in the misuse of public funds for the 8 January presidential election campaign. 

He was also questioned over allocations for purchasing t-shirts and caps for the election campaign and also misusing public money to organise a series of functions which were part of the election campaign.

It was revealed that the Fisheries Ministry money had been used for functions and ceremonies held to support the election campaign of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The public hearing of the commission was heard before the PRECIFAC commissioners – High Court Judges Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi, Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake.

De Silva said that the PRECIFAC was waiting for President Maithripala Sirisena’s instructions to take legal actions against those who were mentioned in the two reports.

“President will instruct the Commission on what to do next with regard to taking the legal action to bring the culprits who were involved in massive frauds, misusing of public money and misusing of power, before the law,” he said.

Appointed by President Sirisena, the PRECIFAC has received nearly 1,000 of complaints on large scale of frauds and misusing of power and public money in state institutions.