More chairmen of state corporations and enterprises charged with corruption as investigated by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) would be removed from their positions shortly, well placed authoritative sources disclosed to The Nation. Already, six chairmen found guilty of corruption by COPE have been removed, they pointed out.
The COPE report that was tabled to the cabinet is now being closely scrutinized for immediate action by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sources said. According to the sources, a top level inquiry is now in progress on a number of officials at the State Timber Corporation identified as a den of corruption during the former minister Mahinda Wijesekara’s tenure.
The COPE on Friday summoned Sri Lanka Cricket and pointed out that there was an inordinate delay in perusing documents pertaining to the expenditure at the last World Cup. Chairman of COPE Minister Dew Gunasekara, reliable sources said, had informed the lapses on the part of Sri Lanka Cricket to President Rajapaksa late afternoon.
Sources said the President had directed Sports Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage to take immediate action with regard to the World Cup fiasco. Minister Aluthgamage yesterday appointed a Committee of Inquiry to probe the World Cup cricket controversy, sources added.
Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa has assured COPE that all recommendations made by COPE would be implemented without any delay as two hundred and twenty nine (229) State Enterprises that were probed by COPE have been found guilty at a level of ‘collective corruption’. The Nation learns that a high powered committee headed by the Secretary to the President assisted by the Secretary to the Defense Ministry and all secretaries of all ministries are now collectively probing allegations and charges on corruption and financial irregularities in all state corporations and enterprises that were pointed out in the report tabled to Cabinet by COPE.
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