Committee report sent to Harsha’s home rejected

Report requested by the Committee on Public Finance regarding the redirection of 2.5 million US dollars from the General Treasury to another party was sent to his private residence, Member of Parliament Dr Harsha de Silva says.

He further stated that he refused to accept the report and directed them to send it to Parliament. He mentioned that the relevant report was requested to be discussed at the Committee on Public Finance.

Speaking further, the Member of Parliament stated:

"We requested this report with all details. The committee agreed to provide this report and requested four weeks for it. However, at the end of the period, there was some delay in the report arriving. Anyhow, the report sent to us is unacceptable. It was sent to me personally, stating 'for my personal reference only'. I saw this as hijacking the responsibility of the finance committee since this report was sent to me personally. I do not know if there is a special trust in me."

"A detailed report was requested from the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance regarding the theft of 2.5 million dollars from the General Treasury. It was sent to my house stating 'for personal reference only'. The report was not requested for my personal reference, but to be discussed at the Committee on Public Finance. I refused to accept it and ensured it reached them again through Parliament," he said.

Expressing further views, Dr Harsha de Silva stated:

"Sending the report to me is a hijacking of that responsibility from the finance committee. That cannot happen, how can that happen? Based on the agreement of the finance committee members, I ordered a report to be presented to Parliament again tomorrow. Once it is received, we will discuss it."