He was addressing members of the Jathika Vidvath Mandalaya at a ceremony to mark its seventh anniversary at the Central Bank Auditorium, Rajagiriya.

He said: "The COPE Committee has the right either to accept or dismiss his evidence. Nevertheless, since they have not sent for me so far despite my request as the minister in charge of the subject to give evidence, there is a doubt over the impartiality of the Committee."

Referring to the situation that existed in view of purchasing government bonds, Wickremesinghe said: "The Central Bank bought, especially government bonds, not from the open market.

Mostly they have carried out them in private. It is against procedure and we have stopped it."

"Why did the Auditor General's Department refrain from showing this? Why did not they speak about it?" he asked.

"The government cannot investigate this matter, but the Parliament can," the Prime Minister said."We have to deal with a Parliament that covered for corruption, that did not speak against corruption. That is why we are waiting to see whether people will put an end to this or give it a go ahead," he said.

"All institutions had collapsed. It was only the judiciary that dared stood in the way of it at last. When the judiciary ruled against it, they removed the Chief Justice. Justices were threatened and intimidated. There was undue influence on judicial officers. That was how it was going," the Prime Minister said.

"A new method was put into operation. Judicial officers were told that they have to take the President's approval for that. This was the first step taken to exercise their influence on judicial authority," he said.

When the Bourse stated investigating the conduct in the Stock Exchange over corrupt practices, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission was removed. Moreover, the Central Bank stayed away from investigating the height of financial corruption problems, the Prime Minister said.

"If the Auditor General's Department carried out its operations correctly and showed what was taking place, corruption in the country would not have gone this far. They have not performed these tasks, " the Prime Minister said.

"If the guard dogs do not bark what is their use?" he asked. "I have appointed separate Committee to investigate why these institutions failed to take action against corruption.We will get a report from that Committee."

(Dailynews.lk)