Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) D. E. W. Gunasekera and reports in the media regarding the recent inquiry into the Bond scam had violated the Parliamentary Privileges Act

In a letter addressed to Secretary General of Parliament Dammika Dasanayake, the Prime Minister said both Gunasekera and certain media institutions should be penalised under Section 22, Sub Section 5 for coming up with false information with regard to the report on the alleged scam.

Mr. Wickremesinghe argued that the report, which was put out by Gunasekera recently was not the COPE Report.

He said the document, which was given to media by the former COPE Chief was not a official report as it had not been approved by a majority of COPE members.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the license of Perpetual Treasuries as a primary dealer would be cancelled if the need arises.

Also he revealed that he had to pull the Central Bank Governor up to ensure that bonds would be auctioned in order to maintain transparency.

Mr. Wickremesinghe came up with this information, when he was briefed by the former COPE Members Sujeewa Senasinghe, Eran Wickramaratne and Rosy Senanayake on what took place during the COPE hearing.

Mr. Senasinghe informed Mr. Wickremesinghe that the Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran had told COPE that the Prime Minister had advised him to go for an auction.

Also the former MPs said it was revealed at COPE hearing that someone from the Debt Department of Central Bank had informed one of the Primary dealers to make a bid as the interest rates were profitable for the dealers. (Yohan Perera and Sanath Desmond)