20 April, 2024

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Cabinet Sleeps On National Audit Bill Despite More Than 100 Requests For Action: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said at a media briefing at the President’s House on Wednesday that Cabinet had not moved on enacting the National Audit Bill despite the fact that he had taken up the issue with the Cabinet on more than 100 occasions.

Sirisena

Enacting the National Audit Bill was included in the ambitious ‘100 Days Programme’ which was a central element of his election manifesto.

The President revealed this to Shamindra Ferdinando of ‘The Island’ newspaper when pointed out the importance of enacting vital legislation such as this against the backdrop of the President’s shocking claim that Rs 1 Trillion in foreign loans and grants received between 2004 and 2014 couldn’t be unaccounted for.

The President also claimed that there was a group working in unison to block judicial investigations on the basis of PRECIFAC (Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges) revelations and the report submitted by the Presidential Committee of Inquiry into the Central Bank bond issue scandal.

This ‘group’ according to Sirisena was made up of corrupt parliamentarians representing the major political parties, i.e. the United National Party (led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which he, the President, leads.

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Latest comments

  • 18
    5

    None of the previous heads of state ever spoke about corruption among politicians. President is at least speaking about this subject and how to eradicate corruption.

    He may have shortcomings. However we as tax payers should make use of this golden opportunity to strengthen his hands and get him to enact legislation against corruption, instead of criticizing him.

    If not, it will be a golden opportunity lost which might never happen again and Sri Lanka Lanka may very well end up like Nigeria.

    • 6
      5

      spot on

    • 9
      0

      Lack of management experience, lack of office management, project management are the problem every where in Srilanka. Pm say I will do this I will do that never happened except robberies. PResident only complains. Mahinda Rajapakse and the gang becme bulls in the china shop and now he understand what he did wrong and he sabotages every thing. His gang of SLPP -thieves are waiting behind him. It is the same with UNP or SLFP.

    • 0
      0

      Missed opportunity may be! but the’ kiss of life ‘ of may save the situation of a man pulled out from drowning. Lets Help.

    • 10
      1

      Failure to take action against the Rajapaksas is going to have serious consequences for the future of Maithripalas SLFP and Ranils UNP also the future of our country.

      While our government is unwilling/unable to take action
      Mahinda seems to be using his looted money to hire a crack team (probably international) to work on his election campaigns.

      He is well set to rock the boat but this Government seems to be blind to the danger ahead!!

      There is an environment being created for the emergence of a third political force that is willing to do what this Government is unable/unwilling to do…

      Taking action against the Rajapaksas is unavoidable and will be a huge step towards progress as a nation.

    • 0
      3

      Dan, Prez. Sirisena should not take the so-called 10 trillion Debt counted by corrupt international accounting companies.
      Price Water House and Coopers which was banned from India recently for fake accounting Recall Arthur Anderson and Enron, fake accounts scams some years ago. KPMG IMF are all in the business of putting counties like Lanka and Greece into a Debt Trap with Fake accounts and bad policy solutions, so that they may take over economic policy making in such countries and stay in the “Bailout Business” Please see the report of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam on how 4 global accounting companies _ KPMG, Deloitt, etc are part of the problem of corruption and global inequality.
      Fact is that the 10 trillion debt is partly fiction by IMF and these debt trap international accounting firms to take over and run Lanka’s economy in order to benefit the Global 1 percent and the Sole Super powers strategic interest in India Ocean/

    • 8
      0

      He was the President for the past 3 years and he has Executive Powers. Why didn’t he take action? Why didn’t he present a proposal to the Cabinet for a National Audit Bill, isn’t he the head of the Government? Why only now all these noise? Why did he send Gota to USA so that he can avoid arrest? How genuine is the President. Since he is the head of the Government and has Executive Powers and has not caught a single major rogue he has to take the majority of the blame. He is also the person who does not have the strength to bring equality to all races, religions and sexes in the proposed constitution, which is now gone to sleep.

      • 0
        0

        Well said. He is a bankaloth janadhipathi. A person not fit for the position ! He still behaves and acts as if he is a Grama Sevaka from Polonnaruwa !!

        He is a disgrace !!

    • 2
      0

      President is at least speaking about this subject and how to eradicate corruption.
      How?
      Return the ship, get the money back from Russia, pay it for Hangbangtota loan, get the harbor back from China. All the corruption monies are restored to government. Is that a rocket science to the Modayas to think about?

    • 2
      0

      D.
      How does one “strengthen his hands”?
      He has been President for three years; all talk,no “legs”, unable to move. SAD.

  • 25
    1

    Why is the president who is the head of cabinet and head of gov’t not able to get the audit bill approved. He need not give excuses but use his executive powers to do so if his intentions are genuine.

    • 0
      0

      Jagath,
      We talk about corruption but we don’t talk about what happened during and after the war for thousands of civilians and LTTE surrendies with international mediation. Recent Lasantha murder inquiry revealed that there were murder of a two innocent Tamils in order to brand them as LTTE and the murder of another intelligence officer. The tamil issue is closely associated with the corruption and all other unlawful actions of the past.

  • 17
    2

    This summarizes the status of the country.

    No politician wants to take action against the others because they are aware that the same thing could happen to then. Reality is all 225 idiots in parliament are corrupt and the system allows them to get away with fraud and corruption.

    In fact Sirisena him self said that the AG department is no mood to prosecute any one and that is the truth. If required based on the bond report many people could have been arrested within 24 hours if the Police and AG wanted to do it. But they don’t want to do it.

    AG is eyeing the CJ position and hence important to be in the good books of political parties. Some of the AG staff who led evidence at the bond scam have been sidelined now. They would have no future under the current administration.

    1 Lasantha and Thajudeen murder investigations are going no where.
    2 Prison riots report idling for 2 years.
    3 Avant Garde case pending.
    4 MIG jets case not even bring discussed
    5 Coal purchase case not even commenced
    6 Sri Lankan and MIHIN robbers still enjoying all the perks
    7 Expressway deal makers riding high
    8 Hedging calamity forgotten
    9 Spot gas purchases by Litro is forgotten
    10 Airbus deal is already written off

    Sit back and relax since nothing will happen !!

    • 9
      0

      What about the killing in Kataragama.?Who ordered it?
      The Sirisena brother who was killed for abusing an old couple in raw filth.
      What about the assaults,tear gas on strikers.
      The aged warship from Russia – why does SriLanka need one. Whois making money out of it?
      The cost of Kandy expressway is over over ten times the cost per lm of other expressways. Whois making the money?
      Who killed Richard de Zoysa
      Who killed Prema Kirthi de Alwis.

    • 8
      1

      JF you should be listing the Mega Bond Scam by the criminal politics headed by the PM as No: 1. This is the most recent and fresh in mind of the people, and the worst scam in the world. Ranil and his mates have certainly set a record for the Guiness Book, of a democratically elected government conning their citizens and pocketing billions (or is it trillions now) of national assets for their private use. They should be jailed along with the perpetrators of the other 10 you listed NOW!

    • 3
      0

      Unless people wake up from their deep slumber and change their
      Green Blue adherence , there’s no point expecting their members
      to be different . Politicos call the voter “Intelligent” and in return,
      the voter call the MP ” Uthuma.” Good marketing for the party !
      Fools are intelligent and bloody fools are Honourable ! People ,
      nothing but people , can change all this . My3 here is SIMPLY
      following the fashion of SOPHISTICATION ! Everybody shouts
      thief , thief , thief and the THIEF ALSO SHOUTS THIEF , THIEF
      THIEF from among the THIEVES ! International war crime
      investigation must also be invited to DO SOMETHING TO CATCH
      OUR SOPHISTICATED THIEVES WHO ARE FREELY , NOT ONLY
      ROAMING THE STREET BUT ALSO LECTURING THE GLOBAL
      HONOURABLE CITIZENS ! Alert Interpol to catch them ! Dear
      voter , heed the warning , Robbing families are on the loose these
      days , easy to spot them , they are in Blues, Greens , Purple and in
      Robin-Blue whites ! Don’t call police in panic ! Grab whatever your
      hands can reach and call the ambulance !

  • 15
    2

    he’s the F’in chair of the Cabinet. Maybe if the newspaper says it He’ll remember

  • 6
    1

    “Cabinet Sleeps On National Audit Bill Despite More Than 100 Requests For Action: President”
    .
    “……………President’s claim that Rs 1 Trillion in foreign loans and grants received between 2004 and 2014 couldn’t be unaccounted for……….”.
    Is it “…….couldn’t be accounted for……….”? Never mind we understand.
    If true, this is staggering!! Trillion = million times million.
    We have about a million families (average five – parents + 3 kids) living under poverty line. Give each family Rs 1 Million. They will invest this and use the return to live the rest of their lives.
    Only a government consisting of the two power blocks will unravel this.

  • 15
    2

    Not my circus, not my monkeys, I know nothing, right Mr. President?
    .
    Well, well, well, you are the President, you are the Government and now you are the Opposition too.
    .
    To be honest, Mr. President, you do the Opposition’s job better than JO. All your opponents are dancing according to your Bond Vannama (Bond Recital). You didn’t even have to play drums. They are dancing to your tune. You beautifully covered all other more serious shortcomings of your Prime Minister and the government with your Bond Vannama. Nobody talk about Magampura Port, Federal Constitution, New Tax System, Geneva Report, OMP, ICPPED but Bond Nadagama. All three sides, SLFP, UNP, JO are playing a nice game. Ranil is bowling, President is batting, JO is fielding. JVP is both cheering and hooting at the same time. When will general public realize their folly to trust these politicians?

    • 4
      0

      Anyways, Mr. President, I should commend you of your vibrant unanticipated attack on corrupt politicians. Your way of politics I am sure is new to Sri Lanka. You are not ready to dim your lights to make others comfortable.
      However, you are yet to convince the country whether this is an election gimmick or whether you are genuine in eradicating prime ministerial-corruption, governmental-corruption, parliamentary-corruption, provincial council-corruption, local bodies-corruption and institutional-corruption. I admit I cannot add presidential-corruption as I couldn’t find anything.
      .
      Governmental corruption should be ended by enacting the Audit Bill. Seniority-based promotion system should be strengthened. The most senior ‘clean’ career officer in the Central Bank should be the Governor.
      .
      You are astutely targeting people’s mounting anger against corruption. Stop comparing yourself with others as it undermines your value. Your ambition shines while your strategy sucks. Don’t target politicians. You can’t change them. You must correct their actions. In fact, people are done with this Parliament where votes are bought in the broad daylight.
      .
      Hooray, Mr. President, could you please appoint a PCoI on Parliamentary Corruption? If you want someone to make a request to that effect, please accept this comment as a request from the public as my voice is not represented in the Parliament. Now that it is obvious TNA’s votes are bought (as revealed by a former TNA MP) presumably with Bond money, the same way I am sure Muslim, JVP votes would also have been bought. I don’t think JO is bribed by Ranil but there is high possibility for JO’s remote control SLPP is palm-oiled by Ranil. I am curious to know the exact reason of JO (except Wimal and NFF) not voting against Bills that were detrimental to the country and even most of the times not even be present in the Parliament.

      • 3
        1

        JO started its LG election campaign by targeting Ranil but hurriedly changed it to attacking President. They demanded President to make the Bond Report public and it is pretty obvious that they didn’t expect President would do it. The moment it was done they backtracked and now looking for various excuses to save Ranil.
        Hello JO, where is the NO CONFIDENCE MOTION against Ranil that you promised to bring to Parliament?

  • 21
    1

    If the president can not get the cabinet to act on certain important issues even after requesting them 100 times, either he should give up the presidency ASAP or remove the cabinet ASAP without wasting time of all the editors .

    • 8
      0

      Either Prez resign or dissolve Cabinet must take place.

  • 18
    1

    What sort of President you are ? 100 appeals gone with the wind? Who heads the cabinet seems Ranil? You are a puppet. Where is your sword.?

  • 16
    1

    One thing is very clear. President Sirisena is absolutely incapable of wielding power. The basic reason for this is his head is empty!

  • 11
    1

    why does he not do a face lift.Go to a plastic surgeon and make his face look like a gorilla’s.Then Put a big bushy moustache permanantly pasted on his face.Then at a cabinet meeting let out all the filthy expletives he can think of in choice sinhala filth.then only once he has to do it to get the audit bill instead of 100 times.he should resign if he can’t scare the shit out of people and get the results.One of the greatest of all businessmen told me that all were surprised when they visited him because his office room was just an ordinary small one without any of the trappings of big office.He said to me i am not interested in any of those things.I am only interested in producing results.Warren buffet too lives in a simple house ,eats burgers and goes to office in a simple car and has donated 30 billion.

    The moral of this comment is if you can’t produce the results quit whingeing and kindly f….off.

  • 3
    0

    Unbelievable game. Very honest govt has bought a Cr to the AG. What does that mean. Bribing the Prosecutor to stop prosecuting. So, whom should ask the voters who expected justice from the govt. PM is established to be the instigator of the robbery. President is complaining to voters thinking that would result more votes. What can voters do nothing. Last president used all the available resources to cheat voters.
    What will happen to those TUSKERS who died because it was governing politicians who are involved in it. What will happen to the first Money laundering case of GALLE-On RAVI. There are so many thefts life that. More theft are occuring just like Offering RS 14 billion to Mitsubishi bank by a govt as an insurance. the next election will be in 2019 and probably the president steps down or PResident will gang up with Mahinda Rajapakse and distribute the commis between them ?

    • 3
      0

      He is the Exec President, and he is the Commander of Chief of the Defence Forces. The country has become ungovernabke because the Parliament is occupied by a load of undisciplined MPs and Ministers (AKA robbers, murderers, rapists and all sort of gangster criminals running their own little armies). What should a sensible President, determined to clean the country of corruption and nepotism MUST DO? For goodness sake President, do you have to hear it from us? Go get the military to arrest all these buggers and jail them, and start cleaning up the country. Put the democracy or whatever you wish to call the present day charade on HOLD until you clean up the system, and bring in some new blood, completely devoid of the shit smears from the present lot. Do something like what they do in Pakistan when politccos are beyond redemption.

  • 4
    0

    Mahinda Rajapakse hid everything possible using the govt resources and just by pretending that he did not know anything. Where is the Whip and the Sword of this president ? Whom should ask the voters to do it ? Does appointing a PArtial IGP, Rewarding Army with Badges and buying Cars to AG will complete everything. Is the IMF or MCC program ?

  • 5
    0

    Shankar spot on!

    How many votes are needed for an impeachment!

  • 3
    0

    President’s system selects criminals, conmen as the candidates and he requests voters not to vote criminals and drunkards. Why he doe snot set up a good system to select candidates. There is a severe problem of lack of leadership. Mahinda rajapaksa is not the solution. He was hiding, saying yes to everything and filled every where with more thieves and incompetents who would only say yes to him and his family. the best thing is hand over it to some one new.

  • 7
    0

    every time he opens his mouth he only proves what a weak and ineffective prez he is
    unfortunately the press never asks him hard questions so he gets away with it at press conferences
    lets hope feb 10th will change his perspectives

  • 7
    0

    Ranil is a good person but not a good politician. He always protect his close friends no matter what they do, either good or bad. He made a blunder by letting his friends to loot the peoples money. The closest friend Malik was given every opportunity to take advantage from all bilateral businesses done with other parties ( other counties).
    As far as Bond Scam is concerned, why Malik entered central bank the day before the bond auction was done.
    Ranil does not like to change any decision taken by himself. He always think he is correct. He never let any one to challenge against his decisions. That is why he did not remove Arjun Mahendran from his post.
    One more thing. It is clear that Arjun Aloycias had received funds as loan from BOC as to buy bonds from the central bank. Who gave the bank guaranty? Can you find it and reveal it for the interest of common people. Can BOC release such a huge amount of money ( 10billion) to one person without a guaranty?

  • 12
    0

    THIS PRESIDENT IS A JOKER WHILST THE FORMER IS A MURDERER

    BOTH ARE NO GOOD FOR THE COUTTRY

    • 0
      0

      Nadarajah

      the next president might be a cross between a joker and a murderer so should be just right for sri lanka.Siri is a decent bloke but so inn effective at producing results.

  • 5
    0

    Can you imagine an executive President requesting. Just ACT and DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. President Trump simply ordered that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel because of a firm conviction and signed it up and is moving the Embassy there. He is letting the rest of the world adjust to it. If you want to do the right thing, just do it. But must know what to do. Next set of politicians need to be educated. Start with GMOA

  • 2
    0

    From now on , coconut thieves must first be SUMMONED BY COPE AND
    THEN TO THE FCID or PcoI and then reports handed over to the president
    for TV live telecast . Equal citizens first ! If My3 can’t do it then no one else
    can !

  • 2
    1

    Has President Sira gone Troppo..
    Sira couldn’t account for LKR 9 Trillion of the 10 Trillion which the previous Govt borrowed according to “Daily Mirror”.
    Now He tell s”Island” that it is 1 Trillion.
    Will Sira force the Bond Holders to make a run on the Central Bank by these irresponsible , naive statements on the Economy and the Country as the President?..?..
    Never seen a such a imbecile holding a President Job..
    Sira was a Senior Minister in the Previous Regime.
    In fact he was the General Secretary of the SLFP.
    He held the most senior positions like the Health and Defense Portfolios.
    Now he comes up with all this Bull Shit.
    UNP rogues lead by Dr Ranil and the Chandrika, NGO. Diaspora ” Venture Capitalists” are holding Sira by his Balls.
    He is coming out with all this BS to help the UNP get the majority at the Municipal Elections.
    And try and push the Pohottuwa to Third Place.
    Hoping to get the SLFP suckers to vote for Dr Ranil’s Separation Bill ,which Mr Sambanadan is now demanding to be presented to Parliament soon after the 10th .
    And the Referendum to be held before Christmas..

    • 1
      0

      KASmaalam Kalu Albert K A Sumnasekere

      Why have you taken another avatar and had your reincarnation too soon?

  • 1
    0

    The day GMOA gets elected to parliament, Mara will see stars though now promising goodies only. We are waiting for GOVT. to see what it will look like as we have never seen true govt. We have only seen circus after circus after circus. British ruled in kingdom govt. where all became like the conquering nation in dress, food, culture, habits, language, behavior, values, education, health etc.

    Todays pambayas in Parliament need to stop fooling nation. Meaning of executive president is to execute, at least a few heads with his sword. Sad he doesn’t understand language. Please people, vote for some educated leaders who are skilled and have the political will to uplift and upgrade SL

  • 4
    0

    He was the President for the past 3 years and he has Executive Powers. Why didn’t he take action? Why didn’t he present a proposal to the Cabinet for a National Audit Bill, isn’t he the head of the Government? Why only now all these noise? Why did he send Gota to USA so that he can avoid arrest? How genuine is the President. Since he is the head of the Government and has Executive Powers and has not caught a single major rogue he has to take the majority of the blame. He is also the person who does not have the strength to bring equality to all races, religions and sexes in the proposed constitution, which is now gone to sleep.

  • 4
    0

    An AUDIT is an examination of a thing done. Mr. President: What were you doing, at the time a decision was taken to pay a rent an INCOMPLETE building at Rs. 20.5 million a month to house the Ministry of Agriculture, the Minister of that outfit is your own SLFP General Secretary – Mr. Duminda Dissanayake. For how long this building remains UNOCCUPIED , while that monthly rental is being paid @ Rs. 20.5 million a month. Do you NEED an “AUDIT”? Mr. President, the TRUTH is you are SLEEPING with the Cabinet. Suddenly, you feel the ticks are attacking you, because this is Election Time. I think to get work done from you, this country needs to have an election every three months.

  • 2
    0

    President Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil, JVP leader Anura,

    Where were you people between 2004 – 2014. According to a former Auditor General all the elected members to the Parliament are responsible for financial matters of the country. If what you say is correct, it shows that you people have not done your duty as Parliamentarians elected by voters in the country.

    If the Cabinet ignored your requests and purposely delayed the Audit Bill it shows that you are a failed President.

  • 1
    0

    In this home vs home game, is the referee blowing an ultra-sonic whistle which the Lankan silent majority cannot hear but the players can?

  • 0
    0

    The 19th dream of King Kosala
    King: Lord, there was this jungle with many fierce animals, ruled by a new lion, who had chased away the previous lion, with the help of the elephants. First the new lion behaved like a Bosat telling the jungle inmates that he really does not crave for power but only accepted the position to save the jungle from the previous bad lion. The new lion thanked the elephants for helping him to get rid of the bad lion and said that he will remain in power 4 years only.

    After some time, the new lion started to sing a new song. It was very clear that he was enjoying the perks of the job and wanted to go on enjoying them despite the self-imposed term of 4 years. He also started to suspect that the elephants were conspiring to oust him and put an elephant in his place.

    Lord, I am worried that this dream portends a catastrophic disaster that is going to happen in Kosala Desha during my reign.

    Buddha: Noble King, there is nothing for you to worry about. You are right that this predicts a huge disaster. But it is going to happen after thousands of years from now, in an era called Yahapalanaya, in Lankadweepa – not in your Kingdom.

    King: Lord, are you sure that it will not happen even in the reign of my son?

    Buddha: Of course, noble King. Buddhas do not say things unless they are certain. As you know, I have this ability to see far in to the future. Calm down, Noble King. It is not going to happen during your reign or that of your son.

  • 4
    0

    What a joke? Who is the head of the Cabinet? President Sirisena doesn’t know that he is the head of the cabinet and he can overrule even the Prime Minister’s decisions? Then what on earth is he talking about? This is not just silly but sad.

    Now I understand why MR did not give the premiership to this man.

    Has the president joined the JO to criticize the Yahapalana government? He speaks as if he is not a major coalition partner of the government. I hope the UNP should speak up now. It is now or never!

  • 3
    0

    Our president has a very weak leadership qualities. A leader should not complain or point fingers at those under him. Rather, take necessary actions to put them on the right track or sack them will help people in this country and stop making future black-sheep, and you become exemplary.

  • 0
    0

    The Mystery of the missing Trillions: Let us do a little arithmetic. The President says, Rs 9 trillion was misappropriated in the last 10 years. Therefore, the annual per capita loss was = Loss per year / total population = 900,000,000,000/22,000,000 = Rs 41,000 per annum for every man, woman and child of this country. Assuming that the number of members in an average family is 4, this works out as Rs 13,500 per month, (i.e.) approximately the same as the average monthly income of a family.

    Now that our President has come to know of all this, we can be sure that he must have already taken steps to stop the pillage, at least from now on. Let us see what will happen by next year. People should see an upsurge of income, far greater spending on health, education etc., great new projects and many other great improvements. We should also see the culprits being punished.

    When President Jimmy Carter said, “I will never betray the confidence that any of you had in me” he must have meant the Democratic Party and the people who voted for him – quite a contrast to our President who (i) betrays the people by keeping silent for 3 years, (ii) his political partners by saying that only now and (iii) the country, by disregarding the bad impression it creates in the minds of foreign donors and investors. But 9 trillion a year makes all that worth.

  • 0
    0

    Sirisena Sir, Sorry I say this. You boss of Sri Lanka. Me also boss. But me boss of small Rajagiriya Bajar. Have people good people have bad people in Bajar. Good Bajar boss not neck cutting. If boss neck cutting, one day boss get neck cutting from people. This rule.

    Some time my boys make mistake. If too bad I hit him. But all private. Not any one see. This because if see boy feel very bad and shy. Cannot give face to friends, girlfriend, family. But one thing sure. First I try too much to make him good. If no good after trying trying, I hit. If again bad bad I ask him leave Bajar. Give money also to go. But I not shout and say ‘This man bad man. He did this bad thing’.

    I think many men very bad. Think about him only. I mean self fish. Sir, hope that correct. Dog different. Loyal. Defend and protect man and family. I mean dog defend boss. Must also Boss defend dog. Too much to learn from dog.

    Hope CT Sirs will pass this.

    • 0
      0

      Edwin, this time did you forget to change the user name?

      • 0
        0

        Please do not make things worse for me. Rajagiriye Samantha is not amused as you can see from his response below. How am I going to past Rajagiriya without this man catching me I do not know. But I am in Bahrain no need to use the bridge.

        • 0
          1

          Rajagiriya Samantha was called Silibiris earlier.

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