The aim of the move is to allow Wickramaratne to go overseas to carry out the audits of the Sri Lankan high commission in the UK and the Bank of Ceylon from September 10.

Wickramaratne and three other audit officers are to leave for the task, which carry a 400 dollars a day allowance.

The AG’s Department is to handover charges to suspend Wickremaratne’s services for aiding the audit fraud in question.

The related investigation report with recommendations had been there since 2007, but had not surfaced.

Report covered up

A committee appointed by the then AG P.A. Prematilake carried out the investigation against Wickramaratne and another audit officer by the name Jayawardena.

The committee had investigated the fraud in the payment of bills at the National Water Board’s Trincomalee office from 1996 to 2006.

The Department had received information about a fraud of Rs. 100 million at the time, but had not taken any preventive measures.

The Department continued to receive complaints and petitions, after which the investigation committee was appointed.

Its report was handed over in 2007, by which time Prematilake had retired, and was succeeded by Swarnajothi as the AG.

Since then, the report remained covered up.

Following Swarnajothi’s retirement, Wickramaratne was appointed the acting AG, who approved leave for his co-accused Jayawardena and sent him to Zimbabwe.

Later, director (administration) Kapukotuwa has taken measures to hand over charges to Wickremaratne and Jayawardena.

AG’s department sources say the postponement of the suspension of an accused officer and sending the same officer for another audit work is a serious damage to the independence of the institution.