Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to go before the Bond Commission tomorrow raising the bar for transparency and judicial independence while demonstrating his commitment to good governance, officials said.
Following a public pledge to assist the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the Prime Minister was sent questions which he answered by way of an affidavit last month. He had also offered to go before the commissioners should they need further clarifications.
“The Prime Minister going before the Commission sets an example to the entire country,” Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella told parliament yesterday. He underlined that the Premier had volunteered to go before the Commission.
The Sunday Observer learns that the Commission had summoned the Attorney-General Jayantha Jayasuriya to be present on Monday when Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is due to present himself.
Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama and Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim have already testified before the Commission. Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake too has given evidence before the Commission.
The Commission headed by Supreme Court Justice K. T. Chitrasiri is due to submit its report to President Maithripala Sirisena after its term ends early next month. The other members of the Commission are Supreme Court Justice Prasanna Jayawardena and former Deputy Auditor General K. Velupillai. Last month, the Prime Minister told senior members of his party that he should have an opportunity to respond at the Bond Commission to clarify the government’s position on bond auctions.
Unlike the previous administration, the Prime Minister stressed that his government had delivered on a promise to fully investigate the bond sales when concerns were raised.