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Bond Commission: AG names PM among witnesses
Twenty witnesses, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, are on a list submitted by the Attorney General’s Department to the Commission of Inquiry probing the Central Bank bond issue. The AG has requested that they be summoned before the commission. The Sunday Times learns that the request has been made to clarify certain statements and issues that had arisen before the commission. The commission this week declared that it had ended its public sittings, but said it was willing to listen to other witnesses, if required.
The commission earlier sent a set of questions to the Prime Minister requesting him to submit responses in the form of an affidavit. The response had been delivered to the commission on Friday. Meanwhile, the commission has requested the President for an extension of its term. Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando told the Sunday Times that he was yet to see the request by the commission, but would look into the matter by Monday and discuss the request with the President.
The term of the commission is due to end on October 27. Earlier two extensions were granted.
The Commission probing the issue of Central Bank Treasury bonds from February 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 comprises Supreme Court Justices K.T. Chitrasiri (Chairman), Prasanna Jayawardena and retired Deputy Auditor General V. Kandasamy.