Notice issued on NSB chairman

Siranjanie Kumarie and Jayantha de Silva

Colombo chief magistrate Rashmie Singappuli yesterday issued notice on former chairman of the National Savings Bank for the alleged unlawful procurement of shares of The Finance Company. The notice is returnable on February 28, 2013.

The magistrate issued the order to consider filing plaint against the respondent Pragith Gamini Suraj Kariyawasam, husband of Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake, and a resident of Colombo 8, by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

The allegations are in connection that the respondent between 14-3-2012 and 3-5-2012 while employed in the capacity as the Chairman of the National Savings Bank (NSB) had initiated action to procure on 28-4-2012 7863362 shares of The Finance Company for a sum of Rs. 39,1137654533 with the knowledge that the state stands to incur a loss. Furthermore, while employed as a government servant on 28-4-2012 informing the entity (The Finance Company) that shares would be procured and informing the entity to appoint Shan Chandraselaran Shanmuganathan as a director to the entity.

Amongst the 26 witnesses listed are Executive of the NSB Anura Daniel Perera, Legal Officer Pathima Deen Director of Tabrobane Security (Pvt) A.V. P. Arumadura , Samantha Rohan Silva. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had listed 51 production items including documents of Tabrobane Security Company 's documents concerning the transaction of shares.