Bond scam: Not just officials indict politicians as well: Handunnetti

While appreciating the fact that permission had been given to file cases against the suspects of the Central Bank bond scam before a trial-at-bar, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Sunil Handunnetti yesterday said it was not sufficient only to indict officials but the political authorities behind the scam should also be brought to book.

“We appreciate the move by the Supreme Court to name at least 10 suspects that would be prosecuted for this crime. But we do not think that this is sufficient. People's representatives behind this scam should also be brought to book, not just the officials whose names appear in the official documents,” he said.

He told a news conference that there was enough evidence to take legal action against the politicians who were involved in the CB bond scam.

He said the Presidential Commission into the bond scam and the COPE report had both clearly indicated that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was responsible for this illegal transaction. “The Prime Minister mediated to appoint Arjuna Mahendran as CB Governor and the Central Bank was taken over by the Economic Affairs Ministry under him during the same period. He had given also given an assurance to Parliament that Mahendran would return to Sri Lanka in accordance with his wishes. So he should be named as the first respondent in the case ,” he said.

He said former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran was still absconding and could not be brought back due to political intervention.

Mr. Handunnetti also pointed out that the PCoI report on the bond scam had stated that former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake was also equally responsible for the bond scam. He said the forensic audit into the bond scam had been delayed for three years as the culprits were still in their positions. (Ajith Siriwardana)