Poser to MP Appuhamy over CB bond scam, Auditor General’s report and W.A. Wijewardena critique

An article by MP Hector Appuhamy under the above title appearing in the Daily FT of 7 February has aroused the interests of many who were closely following the Treasury bond saga which has become a widely discussed current issue in the country. 

It is praiseworthy for Appuhamy to have contributed to this hot issue focusing on several matters of importance. Appuhamy was a member of the COPE committee which made unanimous recommendations after a lengthy and protracted inquiry including heavy strictures on former Governor Arjuna Mahendran and officials of the CBSL who could be held responsible for this issue. 

In fact Appuhamy was a member of the COPE committee identified as the Foot Note Clique which made very strong references to Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., the company that was the centre of focus in the episode, requiring drastic punitive measures to be taken against them for the shortcomings and suspicious and unwarranted dealings committed as a Primary Dealer.  

Appuhamy unfortunately has forgotten the fact that it was this same Dr. Wijewardena who was recommended by his Prime Minister to advise the three member committee of investigation appointed by him to provide expert opinions for the committee. Furthermore it was Dr. Wijewardena who had to enlighten the COPE members about the technicalities and procedures involved in the Bond Issues during the first COPE inquiry. 

The first COPE committee extended their full appreciation and gratitude for his services rendered in this regard through the Chairman of the Committee which is on record. How and why Appuhamy is made to change his stance and views on Dr. Wijewardena now at this stage remains a question. 

For a moment we do not think that Appuhamy has been instigated by any interested party on the eve of the sittings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate into the bond issue! This type of conjectures are surfacing nowadays due to actual laundering required by persons with dirt on them and  various gimmicks adopted by them to achieve such ulterior motives by way of rationalisations. However I do not wish to categorise Appuhamy’s attempt as any such move.

Nevertheless Appuhamy being a MP and a responsible spokesperson in the Government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has to be extremely cautious in making statements such as whitewashing the Auditor General. As members of the public we do not have an iota of suspicion about the role played by the Auditor General in the bond issue investigation. There is absolutely no need or any requirement for white washing the Auditor General because we see the immaculate spotless whiteness in him so far and his forthrightness in facing errant politicians who cannot stomach his straightforwardness.

Regarding Appuhamy’s views about the direct placement, I am reluctantly compelled to state that he has not shown the wisdom he appears to have gained and displayed in this article during his COPE participation. As a person who has read in its entirety the verbatim reports of the COPE deliberations I feel the MP has totally failed to make such contributions to the COPE. 

Regarding the issue itself I would earnestly request Appuhamy to have a face-to-face public debate with Dr. Wijewardena since we like to enlighten ourselves about the authority of statements made by people sometimes suspected as giving a false birth certificate. I am sure with the huge interest displayed by the media institutions in this country about the bond saga there will be many organisations that would be willingly ready to accommodate such an event for the benefit of the English-speaking public. 

– T. Rusiripala