Parliament should take action over COPE report: SLFP

A strong course of action should be adopted in Parliament after debate on COPE report on Central Bank bond issue

The special SLFP committee appointed to advise the President on the issue 

is evaluating the legal framework available to 

deal with the matter

Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila are engaged in fearmongering amongst the public about 

the new Constitution

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday said Parliament should hold a debate on the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) report on the controversial Central Bank bond issue to recommend specific action to be taken against those involved. 

“We should have a discussion on the COPE report in the House and provide a stage for each and every party to voice its recommendations and opinion over the report. This would be the best way to decide on the final action which should be taken against those involved instead of suggesting different actions through different political parties,” SLFP spokesperson Minister Dilan Perera said while addressing an SLFP weekly media briefing. 

Elaborating on the possible recommendations that can be forwarded by Parliament regarding the matter, Perera said Parliament could seek advice on taking legal action. 

“The President can also appoint a special Presidential Commission for further investigations,” he said.

Parliament could also agree on a system to instruct the relevant institutions on recovering the loss incurred as a result of the bond scam, Perera added.  

“The COPE report or the bonds issue should not be a football for political parties to sling mud at others for their own interest,” he expressed.

The special SLFP committee appointed to advise the President on the issue is evaluating the legal framework available to deal with the matter, Perera said in response to a question. 

“The committee has decided to discuss legal amendments that should be made to take appropriate action against the parties involved,” he said.

“We met for first time this week and we discussed the legality of taking action against the accused in a case of this nature. Further discussions will be held this weekend.”

Perera went on to state that the SLFP committee was exploring possible changes needed for the mechanism the Central Bank was using to issue treasury bonds, to prevent similar scams in the future.

“We must prepare a secure process which can prevent any fraud within the Central Bank and we will enlist the support of economic and legal professionals to advise us on this,” he said. 

Last week President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a seven-member SLFP committee comprising Minsters Nimal Siripala de Silva, John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Sarath Amunugama, Dilan Perera and Lasantha Alagiyawanna to analyse the COPE report to recommend a future course of action.

Speaking on the ongoing process of preparing the Constitution, Perera said that none of the subcommittees had submitted final proposals to the steering committee.

He also claimed that some Joint Opposition members, including MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, were engaged in fearmongering over the proposed Constitution. 

“Weerawansa had said that one of the subcommittees has proposed devolving power to local bodies to adopt a federal system in the country. I would like to remind him that his colleagues MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Dullas Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardena, Prasanna Ranatunga and Dinesh Gunawardena are members of the same committee,” he mentioned.

Perera said that until now discussions only touched on the introduction of a new electoral system.