Handunnetti walks out of COPE meeting, COPE demands action against Arjun Aloysius

COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti has left the committee meeting held in Parliament a short while ago on Monday. The COPE committee met at the parliamentary complex today to discuss last stage amendments relating to the controversial Central Bank bond issue.

The COPE has also recommended legal action against Arjun Aloysius and Directors of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd.over the CBSL bond issuance, Dep.Min Ajith P.Perera says.

The United National Party group in COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) was eyeing to safeguard former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran in the CBSL bond scam, COPE Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti alleges.

“The COPE has disclosed former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s direct involvement in the scam, yet the UNP group in COPE was pushing to reinvestigate the matter,” he added.

He also pointed out that he is of the view the UNP members were attempting to defend the wrongdoers even though the COPE had already suggested the recommendations to be taken in this regard through a ‘common’ report submitted to the Parliament on 21 October.