PCoI report into 2015-2018 corruption allegations to be presented to p’ment

The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on large-scale corruption allegations taken place in State institutions during 2015-2018 is to be presented to Parliament. 

Approval for the report to be submitted to Parliament was given by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday, the Government Information Department said. 

Former President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the PCoI to investigate into allegations of corruption and mismanagement taken place in State institutions from 15 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. Earlier, the commission officials said it had received up to 1,346 complaints and the police unit attached to the commission completed initial inquiries to 166 of them.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne chaired the commission while former High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, former Auditor General Pasdunkorale Arachchige Premathilake, former Ministry Secretary Lalith R. de Silva and former Deputy Inspector General of Police M.K.D. Vijaya Amarasinghe were appointed as commission members. 

The commission had recorded evidence on matters relating to storing paddy at the Mattala International Airport, misuse of government funds on renting out the D.P.J. building to the Agriculture Ministry, malpractices during the distribution of textbooks, tabs and school uniform vouchers for students and financial fraud in connection with Mahapola and Suraksha insurance policy among others.