President appoints commission of inquiry to probe corruption from 2015 – 2018

Jan 17, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a commission of inquiry to look into the alleged corruption cases and malpractices reported from 15 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. The 5-member Presidential Commission is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Upali Abeyrathne. President Sirisena last year said a Presidential Commission of inquiry will be established to look into cases of corruption between January 2015 and October 2018. The ruling United National Party, however, wanted the President Sirisena to subject himself to such a probe by halting presidential immunity. The text and the original gazette is reproduced below. EXTRAORDINARY No. 2106/11 - WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2019 Proclamations & C., by the President Greetings : WHEREAS, a large number of serious complaints and allegations had been made against persons who had held or continue to hold political office and those who have been or continue to be public servants and officers of statutory bodies, regarding acts of corruption, fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation of property, cheating and abuse or misuse of power or authority, State resources and privileges, which offences and acts of wrongdoing had occurred during the period 10th January 2010 to 10th January, 2015, and resulted in serious loss or damage to State assets and revenue and that a Commissioin of Inquiry was established by me by warrant dated 03rd March, 2015 in terms of provisions of Section 2 of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act (Chapter 393) to make investigations and inquiries into the aforesaid complaints, allegations and information with the view to assertaining the veracity of such complaints, allegations and information. AND WHEREAS, the final report of the said Commission was handed over to me on 02nd January, 2018. AND WHEREAS, A large number of serious complaints and allegations had been made against persons who had held or continue to hold political office and those who have been or continue to be public servants and officers of statutory bodies regarding acts of corruption, fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation of property, cheating and abuse or misuse of power or authority, State resources and privilages during the period 15th January, 2015 to 31st December, 2018. AND WHEREAS, I am of the opinion that it is in the interest of public security and welfare, to cause the conduct of investigations and inquiries into such complaints, allegations and information, in order to determine what measures should be taken to provide for and ensure that the law is appropriately enforced and wrongdoers dealt with in terms of  he law, and that there will be no recurrence of such alleged acts amounting to offences and abuse or misuse of power or authority. AND WHEREAS, I am of the view that it is necessary that a Commission of Inquiry be appointed to investigate and inquire into and report or take necessary action on matters hereinafter referred to and provided for. NOW THEREFORE, I, Maithripala Sirisena, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka resposing reat trust and confidence in your integrity, prudence, ability and fidelity, do in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Chapter 393), by these presents appoint you, the said : 1. Honourable Abeyratne Herath Mudiyanselage Upaly Abeyrathne Esquire Retired Judge of the Supreme Court 2. Honourable (Ms.) Sarojini Kusala Weerawardane Retired Judge of the High Court 3. Pasdunkorale Arachchige Pemathilaka Esquire Retired Auditor General 4. Lalith R. de Silva Esquire Retired Secretary to a Ministry 5. M. K. D. Wijaya Amarasinghe Esquire Retired Deputy Inspector - General to be my Commissioners to investigate and inquire into, take necessary action and report on the following matters namely : 1. To call for and receive public complaints, information and other material relating to serious allegations against persons who have held or continue to hold political office, those who have been or continue to be public servants and officers of statutory bodies, regarding acts of corruption, fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation of property, cheating, and abuse or misuse of power, State resources and privileges allegedly occurred during the period of 15th January, 2015 to 31st December, 2018 and have resulted in serious loss or damages to State assets and State revenue ; 2. To conduct prompt, impartial, comprehensive investigations and inquiries into complaints, information and allegations referred to in paragraph 1 above ; 3. To Identify persons who have been or are responsible in terms of the law for committing such offences, acts of wrongdoing, and abuse or misuse of power or authority, State resources and privileges ; 4. To Identify and collect evidence available with regard to such offences and acts of wrongdoing as referred to in paragrph 1 above, and against persons responsible for having committed offences connected with such incidents and wrongdoing ; 5. To Identity which of the acts coming within the ambit of matters referred to in paragraph 1 above, should be forwarded to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption or to the Police or to any other law enforcement authority or statutory body for the conduct of necessary investigations an inquiries with the view to instituting criminal proceedings against persons alleged to have committed the said offences ; 6. To transmit to the Attorney General investigational and inquiry material, enabling the Attorney General to consider the institution of criminal proceedings against persons alleged to have committed the said offences and prosecute the accused ; 7. To present to me recommendations of the Commission regarding what action if any, should be taken against those held responsible for having committed offences and acts of wrongdoing and recommendations aimed at preventing the occurrence of such offences and acts of wrongdoing in the future ; And, I do hereby appoint you the said Honourable Abeyratne Herath Mudiyanselage Upaly Abeyratne Esquire, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court to be the Chairman of the said Commission. AND, I do hereby authorize and empower you, the said Commissioners, to conduct or cause the conduct of necessary criminal and forensic investigations and inquiries and hold all public and or confidential inquires into the aforesaid matters as may appear to you to be necessary, and require you to transmit to me within three months from the date of this warrant the first Interim Report, and thereafter subsequent Interim Reports once a month, and the Final Report within the six months of the date hereof under your hand, setting out the findings of your investigations and inquiries, and your recommedations relating thereto. AND, I hereby direct that any three Commissioners from among you shall participate in the Commission meetings to fulfill its quorum. AND, I do hereby direct that such part of any investigations or inquiry relating to the aforesaid matters, as you may in your discretion determine, shall not be held in public. AND, I do hereby require and direct all public servants and officers of statutory bodies, and other persons to whom you may apply for assistance or information, to render all such assistance and furnish all such information required for investigation or inquiries as may be properly rendered and furnished in that behalf. AND, I do hereby declare that the provisions of Section 14 of the aforesaid Commissions of Inquiry Act shall apply to this Commission. Given at Colombo, under the seal of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, on this 14th day of January, 2019. By order of His Excellency, UDAYA R. SENEVIRATNE, Secretary to the President. 2106-11_E