AG counter attacks, vows not to give up ‘cleaning op’

Wijesinghe

by Shamindra Ferdinando-February 9, 2018, 10:49 pm 

Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe yesterday said that those who had accused him of taking sides in LG polls campaign were way off the mark.

Wijesinghe said that those who had found fault with him for addressing the contentious issue of national debt on the eve of the Feb. 10 polls publicly endorsed his position vis-a-vis the treasury bond scams involving the Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) and various other sensitive matters until they felt threatened by recent revelations.

Responding to criticism, Wijesinghe reiterated that he wouldn’t hesitate to tell the truth regardless of the consequences. Referring to his 2016 annual report that had been released to the media after it was made available to Parliament, Wijesinghe stressed he would stand by figures and assessments given by him.

The AG pointed out that he never protected or supported any party or any individual but always presented a professional point of view. Wijesinghe warned of dire consequences for the country unless the parliament took immediate remedial measures.

Asked whether he regretted having a media briefing on the eve of local government polls, Wijesinghe stressed that he strongly believed the public couldn’t be deprived of the right to know the truth. The AG’s right to perform his duties in accordance with 19th Amendment to the Constitution couldn’t be disputed on the basis of local government poll or national elections. Wijesinghe, admitted that he could be certainly challenged over discrepancy in respect of figures quoted in the report.

Wijesinghe said that he recently told a meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena how the country suffered for want of political commitment to tackle waste, corruption and irregularities. Wijesinghe said that he didn’t mince his words when the gathering was briefed of the national crisis and present government’s failure to enact the much delayed National Audit Bill.

The state financial watchdog urged political parties represented in parliament as well as those interested in wellbeing of the country to examine the overall financial stability of the country. Wijesinghe pointed out that the Opposition had repeatedly and efficiently used a report issued by him in respect of a query made by the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake regarding treasury bond transactions between 2008 to 2014 to defend the previous administration. They had faith in the AG’s Office, the current government was urged to peruse the report posted online as it countered the government stand, Wijesinghe said, adding that on several occasions his statements were brazenly utilized.

"Let me tell political authorities, past and present, this. We are facing an unprecedented crisis that’ll cause catastrophe unless urgent measures were taken. Following the conclusion of local government polls, let there be free and frank discussions on national debt, both in and outside parliament," the AG said.

Wijesinghe said that he had one more year to serve the nation and he always believed that the country came first regardless of the consequences.

Wijesinghe received appointment in Nov. 2015 and earned wrath of some government members for being critical of financial status.

The AG said that his department’s untiring efforts played a significant role in inquiring into treasury bond scams of 2015 and 2016. Some had conveniently forgotten that trillions of rupees in public debt included massive portfolio of government securities, treasury bills and bonds issued over the years.