We have trust in COPE chairman - Lakshmana Yapa

State Minister of Finance Lakshmana Yapa Abeywardena today said that have complete trust in the MP Sunil Handunnetti as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and that they expect him to remain true to his heart.

“We have trust in Sunil Handunnetti. We expect him to act according to his self respect and true to his heart. There was no need for him to walkout of the COPE meeting,” he told reporters in Colombo.

The minister was responding to queries regarding the division within the COPE committee with regard to the report on the Central Bank ‘bond scam’ and Handunnetti walking out during the last meeting.

Abeywardena said that no matter what reports is presented, the UPFA and the SLFP has a stance and that there is no change in their stance. 

He said that certain people can present separate reports but if anybody wants to influence or change the Auditor General’s report, the people should reject them. 

“We expect that after the COPE report is released, it will reveal the right thing. If any action needs to be taken after that, there is place such action.” 

“We will accept the report presented to Parliament by the COPE chairman. But no matter who attempts to give what report, the people know what actually happened and there is no hiding that fact,” he said. 

The State Minister said that MPs cannot change the dialogue of society and that therefore he believes the correct verdict will come. 

Responding to another question, he said that the President has the authority to appoint a Presidential Commission to investigative the bond scam.