Presidential Commission investigated 49 out of over 15,000 complaints received: PM

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate into Serious Acts of Corruption and Fraud, which received 15,599 complaints, has completed investigations conducted on 49 cases, Parliament was told yesterday.

According to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, all complaints were categorised according to its nature and 1,180 baseless complaints were dismissed.

The Prime Minister, responding to Chief Opposition Whip and JVP Leader MP Anura Dissanayake, said: “The findings of investigations completed were referred to the relevant authorities for necessary action. Investigations are on the other cases,” he said, updating Parliament on the progress.

“The commission has no legal powers to punish based on the findings of the investigations concluded. The commission’s mandate is only to report the results of their investigations. The powers to take punitive action or institute legal actions on the basis of findings are vested with the Attorney General or the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The commission therefore has referred the outcomes of their findings to those authorities,” he added, while informing the House of the decision taken to extend the duration of the commission till 3 September 2017. (AH)