WHY NO WEBSITES FOR TRANSPARENCY FOR BILLIONS OF DONOR FUNDS?

The committee chaired by Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Finance also includes Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

- 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is also Finance Minister.

Does not "full transparency" expected by President AKD demand the unwavering integrity of chartered accountants/auditors who are the first and last line of defense against any form of financial corruption in any private sector or public sector institution?

In this connection, does not the appointment of Duminda Hulangamuwa - Managing Partner of Ernst & Young as Senior Economic Adviser to President AKD and member of the "Management Committee" constitute an obvious 'conflict of interest' in relation to clients/potential clients of EY who could benefit from 'inside' information? What is more concerning is that CA Sri Lanka which regulates the audit/chartered accountancy profession has not raised a red flag!

The President of CA Sri Lanka is an ex-officio commissioner of the SEC which is supposed to regulate the private sector.

It is now a month after Cyclone Ditwah. At the very least should not the "Management Committee" of the Fund have flagged its intention to establish appropriate websites and sought proposals from the public to give them a stake in how Billions of donor funds is spent? This is crucial to give confidence to donors on the integrity and competence of those administering and implementing the rebuilding process.

Keeping in mind that the entire rebuilding process is estimated to have a price tag of USD 6-7 Billions and what has so far flowed in is comparatively a pittance, is it not crucial that potential multilateral/ bilateral and individual donors should have the utmost confidence on the integrity and professionalisml competence of the entire rebuilding process?

Websites are also necessary to dispel misconceptions peddled by vested interests both from the government and the opposition.