(Lanka-e-News - 23.Nov.2017, 2.45PM) The right decision was taken at the right time , and there is absolutely nothing wrong in that . That decision had to be taken in the best national interests to revive the economy, and even today that is being fully implemented . Neither are their any flaws in that decision asserted Prime Minister (P.M.) Ranil Wickremesinghe when giving evidence before the Presidential Bond Commission. The P.M. also went on to assure he will never shirk the responsibility he undertook to resuscitate the economy that is in tatters, and even today he stands by what he promised .
The P.M. made these comments with absolute confidence when he came to give evidence before the Bond Commission voluntarily on the 20 th morning .
The judges of the Commission expressed their appreciation to the P.M. for appearing before the Commission and his cooperation, as those are conducive to further investigation . They also thanked him for coming forward to give evidence .
The P.M. who voluntarily gave evidence before the Commission answered all the questions most directly .The Attorney General was present for the cross examination.
It is specially noteworthy there was a large number of cabinet ministers and M.P.s representing the SLFP and UNP, as well as parliamentarians belonging to other parties to extend their support when the P.M. arrived at about 9.45 a.m. to give evidence .
President of the Commission Judge K.T. Chitrasiri in his opening remarks said , no force was exerted on the P.M. to appear before the Commission , yet the P.M. informed he would appear to give evidence in response to the questions that were forwarded to him .
The first question posed by judge Chitrasiri was , what was the need to sign the Bond agreement and obtain payment ? The P.M. replied , the Bond agreement was signed two months after the new government came into power , and at the auctions in February 2015 , Rs. 10.5 billion was earned.
By March 2 nd 2015 , the General Treasury was In need of Rs. 13.5 billion , and when the P.M. was revealing this , judge Kithsiri inquired about a further sum of Rs. 15 billion which was required.
The P.M. explained those were two distinct requirements , and the previous regime had to pay a huge sum of money to the contractors , yet those payments were left to be settled outside the budget proposals. The previous government had not stated how the payments shall be made to the contractors , and those companies are still making requests from time to time to settle those dues , the P.M. explained.
To illustrate his point , the P.M. said , a Singapore Co. is even now demanding payment for its services during the years 2013-2014. The officials were not apprised of these , and in order to circumvent the liabilities when exceeding the limits imposed by the International Monetary Fund , these transactions were resorted to by the previous government , the P.M. pinpointed. The P.M. also went on to disclose to the Commission , a number of similar deceptions which were practiced by the last government.
The P.M. after the conclusion of his evidence before the Commission , addressing the media said , he has no necessity at all to hide . Though obstacles and flaws may crop up, good governance will still be continued , P.M. assured confidently.
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by (2017-11-23 09:27:54)
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