COPE gives SLC one month to produce audit reports

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday took Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials to task for its failure to produce audit reports and other relevant documents pertaining to its spending of Rs. 511 million up to the year 2020, Parliament sources said yesterday.

A statement issued by the media unit of the COPE revealed that SLC officials had also failed to produce documents pertaining to total spending of Rs. 240 million in the year 2017.

“A deadline of one month was given for SLC to produce audit reports and other relevant documents. Accordingly, COPE Chairman Charitha Herath MP had informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Anuradha Wijekoon to see that the relevant documents are submitted to the House within the stipulated period,” the statement said. Meanwhile, an opposition MP who is also a member of COPE told Daily Mirror, said that a sum of Rs. 29 million which was due to SLC for a tour of South Africa had gone instead to an account of a certain individual. 
“SLC officials were questioned regarding this matter and it was transpired that the funds have gone into an account of an individual,” this MP said.

“This illegal transaction could not have taken place without the knowledge of SLC officials,” he added.
However, SLC President Shammi Silva had informed COPE that an investigation is being conducted on it at the moment.
Questions were also raised on the firing of former Sri Lankan national cricket coach Chandika Hathurusinghe before the end of his contract. 
SLC officials had informed COPE that he was fired as he failed to bring desired results.