Parliament to refer COPE corruption findings to Bribery Commission

Parliament is due to approve a motion today to forward information on institutions flagged for corruption and fraud during investigations by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The related debate is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with the House convening at 9:30 a.m. under the chairmanship of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.

COPE Chairman and Member of Parliament Nishantha Samaraweera said details relating to eight institutions would be presented under the first phase of the referral, indicating that further tranches could follow as the committee works through its findings.

COPE is the parliamentary watchdog responsible for scrutinising the finances and management of state-owned enterprises. Today’s motion marks a formal step to hand its corruption-related findings to CIABOC, the country’s main anti-graft body, for possible legal action.

The move follows amendments to Parliament’s Standing Orders that allow COPE and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to refer evidence of fraud, bribery or corruption to CIABOC and law enforcement. The referral is being taken up during a parliamentary sitting scheduled to run through this week.

Governance and anti-corruption reform has been a central plank of the National People’s Power government’s agenda since it took office.

Update (July 21, evening): The Standing Orders amendments came into effect the same day, NewsFirst reported, formally enabling reports compiled by COPE and COPA to be forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or CIABOC as complaints for further investigation. COPE Chairman Dr Nishantha Samaraweera said information on eight institutions had already been prepared for submission to the Commission, confirming that the referral process flagged earlier in the day is now operational.

Update (July 24): COPE has formally referred 23 cases from eight institutions to CIABOC for investigation and possible prosecution, NewsFirst reported, marking the first tranche of referrals under the newly amended Standing Orders.