T-Bond fiasco: Ranil regrets COPE failure to seek his views; questions impartiality

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday expressed doubt over the impartiality of the Committee on Public Enterprises’ (COPE) investigations into the Treasury Bond controversy, in view of its failure to summon him to make representations despite him making a request to do so. 

He said that though he respects the decision of COPE to either accept or reject his submissions, the failure to afford him an opportunity to present his views was a serious mistake and hence questions arise over COPE’s conduct.

Wickremesinghe reiterated that the new Government had been fully committed to eradicate bribery and corruption with a series of actions taken so far and questioned whether effective action could be expected from the current Parliament which has turned a blind eye to corruption under the previous regime.

“The MPs were part of the Government previously and didn’t question private placements of Treasury Bonds by the former Central Bank but have suddenly woken up and raised various issues,” the Prime Minister said. 

It was emphasised that it was the current Government which had done away with corrupt private placements and opted for transparent public auctioning of Treasury Bonds. In response to various issues raised with February’s 10-year Treasury Bond fiasco, the Government appointed a committee and facilitated a further probe by Parliament via COPE.