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Last Updated : 2024-03-29 16:14:00
Gazette Notification No. 1895/19 dated 1 January 2015 issued by the then president, Mahinda Rajapaksa is a unique example of relevance of fraudulent management of public debt by him, the then CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and officials in the Central Bank (CB) in violation of laws, the Finance Ministry announced today.
Issuing a press release, the Ministry made several interim clarifications for the gazette revealed during evidence given by the secretary to Ministry of Finance on 23 February 2017 to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on the Treasury bond issuances
“The gazette contains authorization given under section 4 of the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance to raise loans during the year 2015 through issuance of 31 Treasury bonds of different redemption periods at different interest rates at auctions as notified by the Registrar of Public Debt through newspapers,” it said.
The ministry said that the bonds stipulated in the gazette included many bonds issued in the past at various interest rates since 2011, and that it appeared that the Gazette authorized the past bonds as well.
“According to the gazette, loans will be raised through those bonds within the sum of Rupees one thousand seven hundred and eighty billion authorized in the Appropriation Act, No. 41 of 2014,” the ministry said.
However the practice followed in the past by the CB was to issue the gazette back-dated to January 1 each year, after issuing all bonds during the year in a hidden attempt to comply with the requirement of Section 4 of the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance, while mismanaging bond issuances, it said.
The ministry also informed that the required protocol had not been followed while issuing the particular gazette as instead of sending the draft to the secretary of the line ministry to obtain legal and technical clearance, the Superintendent of the Public Debt (PD) Department had directly sent it to the Government Printer after getting legal clearance from the CB lawyers.
Meanwhile, the ministry noted that all Treasury bonds had been issued in violation of the provisions of the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the CB officials mismanaged public debt to facilitate the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government and Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, through the questionable private placements of bonds.
However, in the gazettes issued in the past, all private placements were legalized as issuance at auctions announced by the Registar of Public Debt.
The ministry said that appropriate legal action would be taken against the officials involved under the provisions of the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
seqi Sunday, 26 February 2017 11:43 PM
pot calling kettle black...lol via DM Android App
Justica USA Sunday, 26 February 2017 11:44 PM
Rajapaksa n Cabral not a good combo...MR n NR... via DM Android App
umeshlk Monday, 27 February 2017 12:12 AM
and until the PCoI, no one knew this! Even when there were so many commissions to investigate this matter!
BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 27 February 2017 08:55 AM
These are only statements on the corruption that took place at the very top.
JAN Monday, 27 February 2017 09:03 AM
After presidential Commission unexpected MRs secrets surfaced Is this Fabricated story or Real Truth via DM Android App
samitha Monday, 27 February 2017 10:40 AM
All are dishonest.
MK Monday, 27 February 2017 10:48 AM
Passing the buck to hide the real bond scam under the carpet.
rasheed Monday, 27 February 2017 11:54 AM
The commission is set up to investigate the present bond issue not the mismanagement during previous govt.
Jehan Monday, 27 February 2017 01:12 PM
Government is doing a serious mistake here, I d not know who is advising these people, when you issue such a statement all foreign investors and local investors will start withdrawing money from bonds. What government is doing now is telling another lie to cover a lie, now the lie is too detrimental
Sunil Tuesday, 28 February 2017 08:33 AM
It is only now that the truth is being revealed. The finance ministry is taking the public for a ride. This is yahapalanaya at its best.
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