JVP wants Audit Bill tabled sans amendments

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday demanded the National Audit Bill should be tabled as soon as possible without amendments, and condemned its delay. 

JVP MP and Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunnetti claimed the bill was supposed to be tabled in February 2015, but charged it was delayed on agendas of corrupt State officials.

“The Government formed the Audit Service Commission saying it wanted to strengthen democracy, but the commission is still inactive due to lack of necessary legislation to function,” he said.

Handunnetti alleged several corrupt officials who could be arrested for ‘white collar crimes’ were trying to delay the bill by claiming it contains clauses that could affect national security. 

“The Government had appointed a Cabinet sub-committee to analyse the articles in the Audit Bill that contravene national security. I challenge they will not find even a single sentence in the draft,” he charged.

“The National Audit Bill was prepared by audit professionals and it was approved as accurate by the Attorney General. Therefore the Government doesn’t have valid reason to delay the Act.”

Commenting over the current Auditor General’s (AG) commitment on the ongoing COPE investigation regarding the alleged Central Bank bonds scam, Handunnetti said the AG’s 1251-page report on Treasury Bonds issuance was “totally unbiased” and independent.

“The AG had done his job well despite Government interference. Then the Government wanted to weaken the powers of AG to safeguard their followers,” he alleged.

Handunnetti said if the bill genuinely requires amendments they should be done with the approval of Parliament.