Forensic audits on Bond scam waste of funds: Vidura Wickramanayaka

Friday, 4 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Nuwan Senarathna

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian Vidura Wickramanayaka yesterday said the forensic audits that were recommended by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into irregular bond transactions would be a waste of public funds.

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian Vidura Wickramanayaka

“We have seen what happened to the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into irregular bond transactions’ report. So far the Government has not taken actions against the big fish of the bond scam,” Wickramanayaka told reporters at Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) headquarters.

Wickramanayaka pointed out the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) would have to seek support of experts in the field to conduct a forensic audit in a transaction connected to CBSL. He noted CBSL may have to seek help of foreign experts for the audit. “I don’t think we have enough qualified professionals in Sri Lanka to conduct such massive scale forensic audit which is connected to CBSL. Therefore we may have to hire foreign experts, which means the Government will have to spend public funds for that as well,” he added.

According to Wickramanayaka, forensic audit should have commenced earlier, not after more than three years have passed since the alleged bond transaction occurred. “According to CBSL the forensic audit will completed by the end of this year. But we don’t know what would be the situation in the country by then. Because there will be Presidential Elections, a new president might be appointed. Therefore we can’t be sure action will be taken if there were any financial irregularities,” he added.

He charged that United National Party (UNP) members were trying to justify the alleged bond transaction in Parliament to cover up their frauds. “Some even wrote books to justify the alleged bond scam.”

“I don’t think they will produce former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran before the court over this allegation. Therefore all these Commissions and reports would only be a waste of money,” he said.