Bond Commission burning midnight oil to meet deadline

• Report due on 31 December 

By Chathuri Dissanayake

The members of the bond commission are burning the midnight oil in a bid to complete its much-awaited report before the end of the year as its term draws to an end on 31 December.

The office of the Commission is now engaged in putting together all additional details needed to be presented with the report of the three-member panel which includes two Supreme Court judges and a former Deputy Auditor General.

The Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to inquire into allegations of malpractices in the bond issue was granted several extensions to its term, with the last being granted on 7 December until the end of the year.

The Commission wrapped up its hearings after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gave evidence before it in November this year.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party faction of the Government expects the State to be able to institute legal action fast once the report is presented. Coalition Government Minister and SLFP senior Minister Susil Premajayantha told the media this week that legal proceedings on the matter could be fast-tracked as the probe came under the purview of the Evidence Ordinance and was headed by the Attorney General.