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Apathy over parliamentary committee
reports
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COPE Chief John Seneviratne
and Fmr. Chief Wijedasa Rajapakshe |
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti
The
Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and
Corruption has submitted a progress report to parliament
in January after conducting investigations into 16
public institutions, based on the findings of two
reports by the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE).
The
progress report seeks to inform the House the overall
status of the investigations into the 16 public
institutions but legislators are skeptical about
concrete action being taken against culpable
institutions due to lack of interest to push for
stringent action.
The
scope of these probes included the acquisition of 621
acres in Passara by the Yashoda Group of Companies, the
sale of eight acres of land to John Keells Holdings
after alleged devaluation of the property, the take over
of filling stations by Indian Oil Company and several
others.
The
Director General, Commission Investigating Allegations
of Bribery and Corruption, Lakshmi Jayawickrema has
written to Deputy Secretary General of Parliament,
Dhammika Dassanayake on January 15 (Ref: BC/2950/07)
informing that the Commission currently investigated
some 13 public institutions based on the first COPE
report and three others based on the second report.
Inform parliament
Jayawickrema sought to inform parliament of the various
stages of the investigations conducted by the bribery
authorities in connection with the two COPE reports.
The
institutions under probe are the Peoples’ Bank, Sri
Jayewardenepura Hospital, Petroleum Corporation,
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), Board of
Investment (BOI), National Water Supply and Drainage
Board (NWSDB), Land Reforms Commission (LRC), National
Lotteries Board, Bank of Ceylon (BoC), Ceylon
Electricity Board (CEB), Sri Lanka State Enterprise
Restructuring Commission, Geological Survey and Mines
Bureau (GSMB) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
According to the progress report, investigations still
continue with regard to People’s Bank and the legal
report on Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital is complete while
the probe on CPC is at its last stage.
The
Commission is probing the CPC with regard to the handing
over of filling stations to an Indian oil company.
Investigations into the TRC have been concluded and the
legal unit is studying the file while probes have been
concluded with regard to the Board of Investment (BoI)
and National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).
District secretaries statements are being recorded with
regard to the investigations that are still being
conducted on the Land Reforms Commission (LRC). Here,
the probe concentrates on the acquisition of 621 acres
in Passara by the Yashoda Group of Companies. The matter
is currently before a mediation board and the Bribery
Commission now awaits the mediation board report.
Some probes concluded
The
probe on the National Lotteries Board (NLB) has been
concluded though investigations into the activities of
Bank of Ceylon (BoC) are partially completed.
The
Commission has also concluded that evidence was
insufficient to file action with regard to the
Kerawalapitiya combined power plant under the Bribery
Act.
The
Commission has also looked into domestic electricity
meters and aluminum rod purchasing contracts by the CEB
as well.
Among the key probes undertaken were the inquiries into
activities of the Sri Lanka State Enterprise
Restructuring Commission. Here, the commission probed
the sale of over eight acres of land to John Keells
allegedly after devaluing the prime property situated in
Colombo
13.
Under the activities of the Geological Survey and Mines
Bureau, the Commission conducted inquiries into the sale
of its building situated in Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
purchasing of a land in Orugodawatte belonging to the
State Timber Corporation (STC) and the acquisition of
Vilasitha Nivasa.
Further, investigations have been completed in
connection with three specific incidents relating to
SLPA.
The
Bribery Commission has also probed three other
institutions based on the second COPE report.
According to Director General of the Commission, probes
have commenced on allegations concerning National
Housing Development Authority (NHDA), Ruhunu Development
Bank and Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund.
Under scrutiny
In
a letter dated January 15, 2009, (Ref: BC/972/2008),
Director General of the Commission, Lakshmi Jayawickrema
has informed parliament that the three named
institutions are under scrutiny at present.
Accordingly, there had been six irregularities within
the NHDA, currently being probed by the anti graft
commission and statements are being recorded at present
from relevant NHDA officials.
Likewise, two irregularities committed by the Ruhunu
Development Bank too are being currently gone into.
It
has transpired, according to the Commission, an amount
of Rs. 102 million had been deposited in Vanik
Incorporation which has provided the basis for a probe
on officials not just from the Ruhunu Development Bank
but also from the Central Bank and Finance Ministry.
Besides a fraud relating to the printing of passbooks
too was gone in to based on a complaint received while
investigations continue with regard to the Mahapola
Scholarship Trust Fund.
But
legislators now feel, the surge of interest and action
taken by the legislature while Wijedasa Rajapakshe
headed the parliamentary committee has significantly
dulled and COPE may not be proactive in the way it
previously was.
Take action
Commenting on the bribery probes, former COPE Chairman
Wijedasa Rajapakshe said it was the duty of the relevant
authorities to take necessary action against the
institutions in the event of any contravention of the
law.
He
said the parliamentary committees such as COPE and PAC
could be used to ensure transparency but it required
political will.
However, a top parliament official said the anti graft
body would continue to report to parliament on the state
of its various probes and the legislature would press
for action when the probes are completed.
“There is so much of talk about good governance and
transparency. A fully functional PAC and COPE would be
the best evidence of the state’s commitment to higher
ideals,” noted Democratic Peoples’ Front Leader and
Parliamentarian, Mano Ganesan.
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Bribery Comm. firm
A bribery official speaking on the basis of
anonymity said progress reports were submitted to
keep the House informed and that there was every
intention of pressing legal charges against
institutions found wanting.
“In some instances, the act does not have enough
teeth. We are going through these probes
meticulously,” the official added.
Parliament will call for action
– COPE Chairman
COPE Chairman and Minister of Power and Energy, John
Seneviratne said the committee had every intention
of calling for stringent action. He refuted charges
that COPE had now lost its quality and was under the
government dictates.
“It is as independent as it always was,” he said.
COPE has lost its significance
– Member
COPE member and Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi
Karunanayake said COPE was now ‘an utter disgrace.’
He said the committees have been politicised
recently and the deliberations were an insult to
committee members.
“The practice is now to defend officials or to
penalise junior officers. The commitment shown by
John Amaratunge and Wijedasa Rajapakshe is no longer
visible,” he said, adding that there was serious
degradation in the quality of COPE examinations.
Parliament should be proactive
– former COPE chairman
Former COPE Chairman, Wijedasa Rajapakshe said it
was parliament’s duty to ensure action is taken
against public institutions if found guilty of
corruption and malpractice.
“The reports that are being gone into were completed
while I headed COPE and now it is another member’s
responsibility. However, these are reports adopted
by a full house so there is no shirking of
responsibility. If the authorities fail to take
action, parliament should press for action,” he
said.’
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