Treasury bond scams:

CoI recommendation regarding forensic audits yet to be finalized, available reports with AG, CIABOC

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Over three years after Supreme Court Judge K.T. Chitrasiri led Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into Treasury bond scams handed over its report to then President Maithripala Sirisena, the Monetary Board is yet to complete recommendation in respect of forensic audits.

Of the recommended forensic audits, five had been completed at a cost of Rs 275 mn and the remaining one not commissioned yet. 

The Island recently sought an explanation as regards the delay in completing the recommended process from Director Communications, CBSL.

The Island: What is the status of the procurement process pertaining to the sixth forensic audit ordered by the CoI?

CBSL: The procurement process to select an audit firm to carry out the sixth forensic audit is underway.

The Island: Can you explain how forensic audits so far obtained at a cost of Rs 275 mn utilized by the CBSL?

CBSL: Copies of the five forensic audit reports have been submitted to relevant authorities including the Attorney General and the Auditor General to initiate actions, as necessary. As per the request of the Director General of CIABOC, certain reports were submitted to CIABOC. Further, the Monetary Board appointed an internal Task Force to facilitate and oversee implementation of the recommendations in the Forensic Audit Reports which entailed, among others, strengthening of processes, internal controls, etc.

The CoI comprised Supreme Court Justice K. T. Chithrasiri, the late Justice Prasanna S. Jayawardena and retired Deputy Auditor-General K. Vellupillai, while attorney-at-law Sumathipala Udugamasooriya functioned as its secretary.

The Monetary Board commissioned forensic audits in consultation with the Attorney General and the Auditor General to deal with issues subsequent to the CoI probe on the issuance of Treasury bonds during the period 01st February 2015 to 31st March 2016 and matters that had come to light over the recent years in audit reports and in findings of internal investigations pursuant to the exercise of certain regulatory and agency functions undertaken by the CBSL. The CBSL in response to a previous The Island query said that the procurement of the five forensic audits were carried out by a Cabinet Appointed Consultant Procurement Committee and the contracts were awarded to audit firms with a global practice and international experience in forensic auditing with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) D. E. W. Gunasekera yesterday (30) told The Island that parliament owed an explanation as regards the implementation of recommendations, both of CoI as well as the forensic audits. Pointing out that parliament conveniently failed to debate the CoI report on Treasury bond scams perpetrated in 2015 and 2016, the veteran politician said the issue at hand could be taken up in spite of the Attorney General moving Colombo High Court against some of the Treasury scam suspects. Former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran remained at large, the former minister said, urging both the government and the Opposition to be responsible in their response to the country’s biggest ever financial fraud.

Responding to another query, one-time General Secretary of the CPSL reminded the CoI report on Treasury bond scams wasn’t taken up for debate in spite of it being on the agenda paper of the parliament.

The former minister said that the incumbent government couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for properly utilizing forensic audits obtained at a staggering cost of Rs 275 mn. The outspoken retired politician emphasized that the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, the alleged fraud in controversial duty reduction of sugar and a spate of other controversies, including import of contaminated coconut oil shouldn’t be allowed to divert attention away from Treasury bond scams.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) lawmaker Dr. Harsha de Silva said that his party expected the Attorney General to act on the basis of CoI recommendations and the forensic audit reports. The former Deputy Minister noted that action had been initiated at the Colombo High Court Trial at Bar in respect of the Treasury bond scams.