The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has recorded the statements from five persons and perused documents in its possession on the controversial Waters Edge case, but has yet to record a statement from former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, nearly two months after the Supreme Court delivered its findings on the illegal transaction.
President Kumaratunga has time till January 31, 2009 to pay the fine of Rs. 2 million imposed on her by the Supreme Court for her part in transferring State lands for setting up a private golf club. The Court also fined her friend, Ronnie Peiris Rs. 3 million for financially benefitting from the deal.
Commission Director Neville Guruge who is heading the special team of inquiry yesterday told The Sunday Times that more documents have to be obtained and more statements recorded before making any move to question any of the accused in the case.
He said the Commission is in the process of examining the available documents pertaining to the deal and has recorded statements from five individuals, but declined to name them.
We have given top priority for this case and we are at present perusing the documents that we have obtained. We cannot make any immediate move until we gather more evidence and record more statements, he said.
The Sunday Times learns that many of the documents are financial statements and those relating to tender procedures. A few of the land transfer documents that are in the possession of the Commission are also being scrutinized.
When the case was taken up two weeks ago the Commission tendered to the Supreme Court a confidential report on the impugned transactions alienating land in Battaramulla for the purported golf course project. Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle submitting the report before the Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Ms Shiranee Tilakawardane and P.A.Ratnayake told Court that all the documents in respect of the said transaction were taken into custody by the Bribery and Corruption Commission and that the process of recording the statements have commenced.
The Supreme Court had previously ordered the Chairman of the Bribery and Corruption Commission to file a report on what action has been taken in respect of the findings of the Court against the respondents.
Last Wednesday the Supreme Court directed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) chairman Dr. P. Ramanujam to continue the operations of the Waters Edge banquet and conference halls under the new management committee chaired by him.
The existing employees of Waters Edge who will be serving under the new management appealed to Court stating that their employment was at risk when the ownership of the hotel was transferred from Asia Pacific Golf course (Pvt) Ltd to the UDA by the Supreme Court ruling.
The new management committee comprises Dr. P. Ramanujam (Chairman), Prema Cooray (Chairman Convention Centre), Hiran Cooray (Head of Jetwing), Mr. Gardiner (Managing Director Galle Face Hotel), Ismeth Rahim and Sudath Karunanayake.
UDA Chairman P Ramanujan told The Sunday Times that the committee is making arrangements for its entry as the new management of Waters Edge from February 8. We will start having regular meetings with the new committee to see things work smoothly at Waters Edge since we are a new management. The golf course will be taken for water retention. We are working closely with the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Company (SLLRDC) which will be preparing a master plan for water retention in the area. The Environmental Foundation has been asked to assist SLLRDC, he said. | 
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