Two Ministers Who Attended A Breakfast Meeting A Day Before The Bond Transaction To Be Summoned Before The Presidential Commission

The Presidential Commission inquiring into the Treasury Bonds issue will summon two Cabinet Ministers who attended breakfast meeting that took place on the 26th of February 2015, a day before the controversial bond transaction.

Ministers Malik Samarawickrama and Kabir Hashim had been present at the meeting, apart from the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who appeared before the commission earlier this month.

At the meeting, Hashim, the General Secretary of the UNP, had stressed the need for raising funds immediately for the government's infrastructure projects.  

He had also requested the Finance Minister, who was chairing the meeting, to release funds to settle outstanding payments for construction projects.

The meeting was also attended by former Governor Arjuna Mahendran who is at the centre of the bond fiasco.  

In his statement before the Bond Commission, Foreign Minister Karunananayake confirmed both Samarawickrama and Hashim were present at the meeting, along with Central Bank officials.

"There was a cabinet meeting on 25 February 2015. The President, Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers discussed on how to spend for the election and how to cut down expenditure as opposed to the limited revenue we have. On the 26 February 2015, Hon ministers Malik Samarawickreme, Kabir Hasheem and Governor, Deputy Governors, other Central Bank officials were present," Karunanayake said, in his statement.