Court lifts ban on COPE’s Bond scam report

The Colombo District Court yesterday lifted the enjoining order on the publication of the COPE subcommittee findings on the Central Bank Bond controversy, upon a request made by the petitioner in the case, former UNP MP Sujeewa Senasinghe.

Senasinghe filed the petition to prevent the release of the document UNP members of COPE claim was merely a summary of evidence gathered by the COPE subcommittee during their investigation. The UNP claimed COPE Chairman D.E.W. Gunesekera was attempting to pass the draft off as the official final report of the oversight committee for political advantage ahead of the parliamentary poll.

On 16 July, the Colombo District Court issued an enjoining order, preventing the release of the document, until the next court hearing which was yesterday (23).

When the case filed by former MP Senasinghe seeking the prevention of publication of a fabricated document purporting to be the COPE report on the bond issue was taken up, counsel for the former UNP MP said he would challenge anyone to produce any report with his signature thereon.

Accordingly, counsel for Senasinghe said the petitioner did not want the enjoining order extended by the court.

Counsel appearing for UPFA respondents asserted that the Court could not exercise jurisdiction to hear this case.

Counsel appearing for former UNP MP and COPE member Eran Wickremaratne informed court that no report had been approved by the COPE subcommittee and that publishing fabricated documents, suggesting that he was a party to the alleged draft report caused prejudice to him as well. Therefore, Counsel for Wickremaratne argued, court had jurisdiction to hear the case. Attorneys for Wickremaratne also sought time to explain the former Parliamentarian’s position by way of an answer to be filed.

The Court fixed the case for all parties to file answers.

The COPE subcommittee was appointed to probe the controversial bond auction by the Central Bank after concerns were raised in Parliament by the UPFA about the bid won by Perpetual Treasuries, a dealer linked to the bank Governor’s son-in-law. (DB)