Forensic report on bond scam: Central Bank seeks AG's advice amid controversy

The Central Bank has sought an opinion from the Attorney General's Department on whether it should release a forensic audit report on the issue of bonds during the previous and current governments, as it could influence the upcoming presidential election.

The report in five sections has been made available to the Central Bank by international auditors.

The report was compiled on a request from the Central Bank after the Commission appointed by the President to look into the issue of bonds after 2015 also recommended that a forensic audit report be carried out on the issue from 2007 onwards.

A senior Central Bank official said they have written to the AG’s Department specifically asking whether two of these sections of the report should be released as some parts of the report may be used during the presidential election campaign.

He said a Monetary Board meeting was held in this regard and there were differences of opinions about the release. “Some members were of the view that since it is election period, it should not be released."

At the meeting, discussions were also held about the three more sections of the report after some officials expressed concern, saying they did not agree with the contents of the report.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) have requested that copies of the report be made available to them.

A Prime Minister’s Office senior official said they had made several requests to the Central Bank to release the report, but had not received a favourable response.

“We believe that the report is being purposely delayed as it contains information which may implicate some of the Central Bank officials," he said.

A Finance Ministry spokesman said the ministry also had requested that the report be released soon.