Centre for Human Rights calls on Parliament to question Secretary to President

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Centre for Human Rights and Research (CHRR) yesterday (4 June) called on Parliament to summon Secretary to the President Austin Fernando to question him on the missing 13 annexures from the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) into the Central Bank Bond Scam. 

CHRR Executive Director, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon addressing a press briefing yesterday said that an opportune moment had presented itself for Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to call Fernando before Parliament for questioning. 

“The Secretary to the President has still failed to release these annexures to the report, this is a golden opportunity for Parliament to question him about the matter,” Tennakoon charged. 

The PCOI report investigating the Bond Scam was made available to the public in January. However, Tennakoon claims that the report released to the public was incomplete, and that over 5000 pages were redacted.

“Only the three Commissioners who compiled the report, and the Secretary to the President, who was the first recipient of the report, have read the entirety of it,” Tennakoon said. 

Tennakoon called on Speaker Jayasuriya, who is scheduled to make a statement pertaining to Parliamentarians who have allegedly received payments from Perpetual Treasuries and its subsidiaries, to call upon Secretary Fernando for an explanation on the redacted annexures. 

A copy of the annexures are to be tabled in Parliament today (5 June).

He noted that these annexures would reveal the names, identities and telephone numbers of more than 118 individuals, comprising of politicians, civil society members, media personnel, officials and even religious leaders. 

“We have estimated that some 380 cheques have been issued, and these cheques have most definitely surpassed, we presume, Rs. 33 billion, paid to not just people who won elections, but also to those who took part in campaigns,” Tennakoon said. 

“Arjun Aloysius is not on my friend list”: Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena

Text and pix by P. D. DE SILVA

“I only accept assistance for my election campaigns from close friends and associates, and Arjun Aloysius is not on my friend list,” said former Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena on being asked if his

name was in the list of 118 Members of Parliament whose election campaigns were supported by the wealthy businessman who is embroiled in the Central Bank Bond issue. 

“It is best that those in the know disclose who these 118 Members of Parliament are as soon as possible and clear the remaining 107 MPs as it is a heavy burden on them,” he added.

Speaking about the spread of seasonal influenza in the Southern Province, the Matara District Member of Parliament said that he had been told that 21 children had died due to the virus within the past

few weeks and it was the duty of the Minister of Health, as well as the Minister of Education, to take action to prevent the spread of the virus. “The spread of the virus in the Southern Province should

be considered as a matter of national concern,” he added.