President to make a statement on Bond Commission report tomorrow

By Skandha Gunasekara

President Maithripala Sirisena is to make a special statement to the media tomorrow (3) regarding the report of the Presidential Commission on the Central Bank Bond Issuance of February 2016; and its recommendations.

The President made this announcement via his official Twitter account yesterday. “I will make a special statement to the media on the Presidential Bond Commission report and its recommendations on Wednesday 3 January,” he tweeted. With the President making a public statement recently at the launch of the UPFA LG election manifesto, stating that he would not hesitate to penalise wrongdoers, expectations are high on the recommendations of the report and the legal action to follow. 

Upon inception of the Bond Commission, the President pledged to stern action against those found guilty of fraudulent activities in the Central Bank bond issuance. 

The commission was set up in January this year, with the hearing of evidence commencing from February and continuing for 120 days. The recording of evidence was concluded on 17 October even though the deadline was 27 October. However, upon request, the timeframe of the commission was extended to 8 December. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the Commission on 2 December. 

The mandate of the commission was further extended till 31 December and the commission handed over its findings and recommendations to the President on Saturday (30).