Bond debate to continue after LG polls

• Debate to recommence on 21 Feb. for two additional days
• More documents of Bond report yet to be given to Parliament

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Parliamentary debate on the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury Bond scam would continue after the Local Government elections have concluded.

Parliament Joint Opposition group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena told the Daily FT that the decision to extend the debates on the Bond report and reports of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), was taken by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at yesterday’s Party Leaders’ meeting.

“Following requests from the Opposition that the debate on the Bond report not be limited to one day, the Speaker decided to extend the debate for after the Local Government elections,” he said.

Consequently, the Speaker decreed the debate would be taken up on once again on 21 and 22 February.

However, Gunawardena pointed out that Parliament had still failed to receive the complete Bond report. “Some more documents will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow but the Speaker informed us that there were documents of the Bond report that were still with the Attorney General’s Department. They will be sent to Parliament once the Attorney General has studied them,” Gunawardena remarked.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told the Daily FT that today’s debate on the Bond report would conclude by 4.30 pm. “The Prime Minister will be moving the Bond report debate as an adjournment motion. The debate will conclude by 4.30 pm and recommence on February 21,” Kiriella said.