PCoI on corruption at state institutions receive 1142 complaints

Colombo (News 1st): 1142 complaints were submitted to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate into acts of corruption & fraud in state institutions between 2015-2018 since it was established. The Commission ceased accepting complaints from yesterday (March 19). A senior officer attached to the commission said 48 complaints were directed to the Special Police Unit for preliminary investigations. A statement from the commission said the complaints relate to serious acts of fraud and corruption at institutions that operate under the Ministry of Health, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, SriLankan Airlines and Institutions that come under the Ministry of Agriculture. The commission said it appears from the complaints, that senior ranked persons at the Colombo Municipal Council had made it a practice to engage themselves in fraud and corruption. Investigations are underway with regard to a complaint which claims serious fraud and corruption that took place during the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the CMC. Complaints were made against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Malik Samarawickrama, Kabir Hashim, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Lakshman Kiriella among others as well as the advisor to the Prime Minister R.Paskaralingam. Yesterday the Surakimu Sri Lanka Organization filed a complaint relating to the embezzlement of Rs. 4500 Million by Rishad Bathiudeen at Sathosa. Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero of the Surakimu Sri Lanka Organization noted that they will continue to complain and report on corrupt activities that take place in Sri Lanka. He hoped that investigations will take place properly during the next two to three months. The Thero went onto note that this country has become a poverty-stricken nation due to the damage caused by ministers. When questioned if he thinks the presidential commission will do any justice, the Thero noted that with regard to the bond commission report, they witnessed yesterday that even the president is confused in this regard. He said they opposed and complained against the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, however, even after all of this, no action has been taken against Minister Malik Samarawickrema. Sagara Thero however, believes that after this presidential commission concludes in six months, the fate of this matter will be similar to that of the Singapore Free Trade agreement.