Bond loss will be recuperated from other including Mahendran, Arjun and Kasun! -- President's special speech

Bond loss will be recuperated from other including Mahendran, Arjun and Kasun! -- President's special speech

President Maithripala Sirisena has announced through a speech made this evening (3) at 6 o'clock in relation to the report prepared by President's Commission regarding the debatable issue of the bond transaction and that with the offenders being punished and that the loss amounting to Rs. 11,145 million would be recovered from them.

He had also mentioned that the responsibility of the Prime Minister to appoint Mr. Mahendran to the post of Head of

Central Bank in formal as stated in the report. It was mentioned that a bribery case would be filed in relation to former Minister Ravi Karunanayaka acquiring flats from Arjun Aloysius. He also mentioned that criminal and civil legal action would be taken against Mahendran, Arjun Aloysius, Kasun Palihena and other officers holding responsible positions who have been identified in the said report. The complete speech made by President Maithripala Sirisena is as follows.

"Blessings of the triple gem to all of you!

At the outset I wish a prosperous, blessed new year 2018 to everybody! What has gripped much attention, discussion of the public of this country today and are keeping their eyes open with eagerness are allegations, irregularities, complaints which have occured during the period 2015  and 2016 when bonds were issued by the Central Bank which I have taken into consideration and have appointed a Presidential Commission the report of which and recommendations to be implemented have been handed over to me by the commission on 30-12-2017.

Powers and permission to Inquire into and investigate in connection with the issuing of bonds were granted in relation to the period February  2015 to 31 March 2016. Duties of the commission were to look into the relevant matters, draw their conclusions and to forward their recommendations. I extend my thanks to the Supreme Court judges, retired Attorney General and Secretary of the commission who functioned as commissioners of the commission, the Police Department who provided support to the commission, the Attorney General's Department and other allied institutions and all other persons.

It is the belief of the commission that a similar situation as revealed by reports of the commission has occured from the year 2008. The commission informs that those matters should be looked in to ... that is in order to inquire into such matters of corruption and irregularities which took place in the year 2008, what has to be done first is to conduct a common audit and that it should be undertaken by the Central Bank and legal measures should be effected on information gathered thereby.