Disciplinary probe against Mangala put off indefinitely

The disciplinary inquiry against the sole remaining SLFP rebel Parliamentarian and former minister Mangala Samaraweera, which was due to be taken up on Friday after much delay, was again put off indefinitely as the inquiring panel chairman had to undergo an operation early this week.SLFP sources said yesterday that Boniface Silva PC had to undergo an urgent surgery and Mr. Silva who is still recovering in hospital was likely to be indisposed for about two months.

Member of the inquiring panel and disciplinary committee secretary Champani Padmasekera wrote to all concerned, including Mr. Samaraweera’s lawyers Paul Ratnayake Associates of the decision to postpone the hearing indefinitely. If the party wants to speed up the hearing, it would first have to reconstitute the inquiring panel by replacing Mr. Silva with another member, the sources said.

Mr. Samaraweera, who was also the treasurer of the party, along with Deputy Minister Sripathy Sooriarachchi was sacked from all party and Ministerial positions by President Rajapaksa on February 9 last year. Mr. Samaraweera and Mr. Sooriarachchi were each served a second charge sheet calling for their explanations over their crossing over to the opposition, their decision to form an alliance with the UNP and their opposing the last Government budget, among other matters. Mr. Samaraweera had been served a total of seven charges.

Ironically the second charge sheet was served on February 3 this year and Mr. Sooriarachchi was killed in a freak accident on February 6. The first hearing of the disciplinary inquiry against Mr. Samaraweera was fixed for March 26, but he had sought a postponement after his mother died during the latter part of that month.

The evidence on behalf of the party was to have been led by D.P. Mendis PC, while Paul Ratnayake Associates was to represent Mr. Samaraweera.In January the party had to withdraw the first charge sheet after the lawyers for the two rebels spotlighted in court some glaring glitches.

Under the party constitution the CC should comprise a maximum of 63, but at the time the crucial decision was taken it had 66. Obviously the party had been overly eager to reward its faithful with CC posts. Since the decision Dilan Perera had resigned from the CC in protest at Mahinda Ratnatillake joining the Government and two other CC members have dropped out.

The lawyers for the rebels also pointed out that John Seneviratne, W. Karunajeewa, Prof. Wiswa Warnapala and Saliya Mathew were all members of the CC and the Disciplinary Committee. So the charge sheets were withdrawn before the District Court without prejudice to the party to serve new charge sheets to the rebels.

The SLFP has appointed a new Disciplinary Committee comprising Senaka Walgampaya PC (chairman), Champani Padmasekera attorney at law (secretary), Boniface Silva PC, Sagara Kariyawasam attorney-at-law and Sarath Weragoda attorney-at-law.

The inquiry panel appointed to hear the disciplinary inquiry against Mr. Samaraweera comprises Boniface Silva PC, Champani Padmasekera and Sarath Weragoda.