JVP asks what action being taken against Treasury Secretary over SC ruling

The JVP in Parliament on Tuesday asked the government what action is being taken against Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera who was cited in a Supreme Court judgement on Monday for improper dealings in the privatisation of Lanka Marine Services.

Parliament officials said the query was raised by parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake to which Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardene said he would look into it.

Monday’s judgement by the Supreme Court over the ‘illegal’ deal relating to the privatisation of Lanka Marine Services, a fully owned subsidiary of John Keells Holdings (JKH) has raised many issues amongst the business community over the future of Dr.Jayasundera whose actions were criticised by the court.
TimesOnline spoke to several senior, serving and retired public servants and there didn’t appear to be any clear definition in government regulations on what action is set out when a public officer is found guilty of fraud or deceit. Some retired officials said Dr Jayasundera may not the only guilty party as his action and decisions as the then Chairman of PERC must have been endorsed by a higher official.

Serving senior public officials said there have been cases in the past where officers have been fined by court and the department or institution concerned has paid the fine in the case of an action that came as an order from a higher officer. In some cases, courts have directly held the officer responsible for a decision and in such cases, the officer has had to pay the fine. In the case of Dr Jayasundera, if there is action that can be taken it has to be by the Minister of Finance (his superior officer and in this case President Mahinda Rajapaksa) or the cabinet of ministers which approves the appointment of secretaries to ministries.

Opposition United National Party parliamentarians, who have been critical of Dr Jayasundera’s management of the economy, said the party was considering proposing to parliament the appointment of a special committee to probe the conduct of the Treasury Secretary and also Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal, another official who has drawn the wrath of the opposition.