‘COPE findings not sufficient for legal action’
Dinesh Gunawardane gave these details to the House
The Bribery Commission has ruled that some findings of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) given in its 2007 report were insufficient for legal action under the Bribery Act, Parliament was informed last week.
The Commission had reported that the material in the report regarding some institutions was insufficient for legal action
The findings of COPE, in its report submitted on August 31, 2007, were referred to the Bribery Commission for further action at the request of the Opposition. United National Party MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had chaired COPE at that time while an MP from the ruling UPFA.
In response to a question by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake about the follow up action by the Bribery Commission, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane gave these details to the House.
The Bribery Commission had reported that the material in the COPE report regarding some state institutions was insufficient for legal action.
The Ceylon Electricity Board, Petroleum Corporation, Board of Investment, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and National Lotteries Board were the institutions in question.
However, legal reports have been prepared on the COPE findings regarding corruption and financial irregularities in some other institutions -- such as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Land Reforms Commission and the People's Bank.