State Finance Minister defends AG

• Says AG has performed duties to the best of his ability
• Urges support for good governance

Launching a strong defence of the Auditor General (AG), State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena found fault with those who were trying to influence the work carried out by the officer. 

“If anyone is trying to influence the AG and claims that he is not supposed to carry out his duty, it is completely wrong,” he told journalists at a press briefing held at the ministry yesterday.

Noting that the AG was an independent official, the Minister said he was only liable to respond to the Parliament and not answerable to any individual.

“The AG has the right to send an audit report to relevant institutions as well as to people referred to in the report liable for answers. The AG has performed his duties to the best of his ability,” he added.

Abeywardena said good governance and auditing were one and the same, noting that everyone must support their rollout. 

“We cannot speak against an audit. We do not have the right to do so and it is against good governance,” he stressed.

World Bank says didn’t assess AG report on CB Bond issue 

The World Bank yesterday refuted media reports to clarify that it had no involvement in assessing the Auditor General’s report on the controversial Central Bank bond issue.

“In reference to some of the incorrect statements carried by a few media outlets on this issue, the World Bank wishes to clarify that it has not undertaken any assessment of the Auditor General’s report on the bond Issue,” the World Bank Sri Lanka Office said in a statement.