SriLankan probe: ASG and top official in hot air

As senior government officials who were involved in the decision- making process of SriLankan Airlines and the now- defunct Mihin Lanka have been summoned to testify before the Commission of Inquiry, last Thursday, it was Central Bank’s Deputy Governor S. R. Attygalle who gave evidence.

The full day inquiry was tense with heated arguments as Additional Solicitor General Neil Unamboowe grilled the former Deputy Secretary to the Treasury on the procedures followed when billions worth of Treasury bonds were issued in 2012 without the knowledge of then President and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a capital infusion of US$ 125 million to the debt-ridden SriLankan Airlines. Mr. Attygalle claimed that it was only to “strengthen the cash flow of the company.”

As Chairman of the Commission, retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne, noticed, the ASG was armed with a written questionnaire. He wanted to make sure he did not miss any important point. Mr. Attygalle, who was appointed as Secretary to the Treasury during the 52- days of political crisis last year quipped with a remark as to how many marks he would be able to score in the ‘exam’.

ASG Unamboowe shot back, saying that the results would be known once the Commissioners concluded the sittings and the final report was compiled soon.