Summon SEC, CSE officials, Ravi K writes to COPE

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake has written to Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman D.E.W. Gunasekara requesting him to summon officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) over the fiasco in capital markets and boost investor confidence.

Following is Karunanayake’s full letter to the COPE Chairman:

Over the last five to six months the country’s economy has been traversing through some turbulent times. If these trying times are a result of uncontrollable factors and world economic meltdown being one of there we can console ourselves and accept it. However, if it is owing to arrogance, ignorance, corruption and manipulative practices where insider trading is being pursued by a few at the expense of the majority we need to expose and eliminate these white collar fraudsters.

You as the Chairman have been alive and responsive to our requests to act on institutions such as Central Bank, SriLankan Airlines, Ports Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board, National Savings Bank, Lankaputhra Bank, EPF and Bank of Ceylon, etc.

The recent development of the National Savings Bank and The Finance Company Ltd. share purchase transaction reversal has led to exposing many problems, this only being the ‘tip of the iceberg’.

We also should bear in mind and recall with respect Indrani Sugathadasa, who a couple of months ago tendered her resignation in disgust trying to ameliorate the wrongs that were happening in the Securities and Stock Exchange. Considering her close political affiliation, it is nothing but right to commend her bold act of protecting her good name and also honouring the dignity of high office by resigning to prove a point.

Therefore, let us not lose this opportunity to take cognisance of the fact of her resignation and summon the Securities Exchange, the Stock Exchange, the former Chairperson and the present Chairman, the former Director General, the present Directors General and the senior officers of both institutions before COPE for immediate investigation.

I would look forward to your usual prompt and favourable response in order to restore confidence among the Sri Lankan foreign investors and the citizens of our country.