A group of Parliamentarians from the main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday handed over a proposal to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena requesting him to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate economic crimes committed in Sri Lanka since 2019.

The proposal noted that Sri Lanka is currently amidst a severe economic crisis and therefore the Parliament which has the power to control the finances of the country through Article 148 of the Constitution has a responsibility to investigate and identify those responsible for the current crisis.

It also noted it is the Parliament’s responsibility to identify if economic crimes have been committed purposely by officials of the Monetary Board who have failed to carry out their duties by not providing the Subject Minister with vital analytical reports with economic predictions and data linked to economic indicators.

The SJB said it also must be investigated if the country was taken down a path of economic destruction due to those responsible failing to carry out their duties in relation to allowing major tax breaks, failing to pay debt repayments, imposing import bans, allowing the rupee to depreciate and causing the country’s inflation to develop to a state of hyperinflation.

The party also called on the Speaker to identify if Government officials either failed to completely prevent or reduce the blow of the economic crisis and if there were any failures or weaknesses in the State apparatus to do the same.

The proposal also suggests other causes relating to the economic crisis and if any such causes that can cause a similar situation in the country’s future are prevalent and methods of redress be identified.

The SJB noted the Speaker must appoint a Chairman for the Committee that will consist of no less than 12 members. “Help from experts in the relevant field must also be sought,” the proposal said.

The SJB has called for the report to be handed over in three months’ time following its first meeting. The proposal put forward by the SJB had also been signed by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) group backing MP Dullas Alahapperuma.
https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Opposition-presses-on-for-probe-of-Rajapaksa-era-economic-crimes/26-740080