KIRIELLA on Treasury Bond issue: AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT FLAWED

“Not sought expert opinion”

“Presented in a hurry”

The Auditor General’s report on the Central Bank Treasury bond issuance is flawed because he had not sought expert opinion from financial specialists and economists before compiling it, Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, he said the UNP members  representing the COPE had asked for expert opinion because the Auditor General in his report had stated that he had not sought expert opinion. Quoting the report, the minister said the Auditor General had mentioned :

“there was no adequate time for him to get the help of financial and economic experts on the subject matter”. “He says there was not enough time. Nobody asked him to submit the report in a hurry. He should have taken time and get expert opinion. This report is only the AG’s opinion. He is neither an economist nor a financial specialist,” he said.

*The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) decided to obtain a report from the Auditor General regarding the controversial bond issue on February 26

* The Auditor General’s report containing full details on the treasury bond transactions was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

*He hands over the concise report on the Bond Issue to COPE on June 28

*COPE summoned the CBSL officials yesterday