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5 ex-ministers, an MP and 2 Cabinet ministers reported to Bribery Commision
View(s):Five former ministers and an MP were summoned before the Bribery Commission with regard to its ongoing investigations, while two fresh complaints have been filed against two Cabinet ministers.
Former ministers Johnston Fernando, Reginold Cooray, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Lakshman Wasantha Perera and MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena were summoned by the Commission.
A spokesman for Mr Fernando said that the former minister had taken with him details of his assets and produced it before the Commission.
Investigations against the former ministers were related to allegations of amassing wealth.
The complaint against Minster of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen was that he amassed wealth illegally, after entering politics.
The complaint was lodged against Mr. Bathiudeen on Friday by a businessman from Moosali, Mannar, who claimed that the minister or his family members did not own a motorcycle before 2000, but now owned mansions in Puttalam and Colombo, and land in Puttalam and in Mannar, where he owns 2,000 acres.
Petitioner Rasik Mohamed Quaithir Khan, 49, states the minister owns a luxury mansion worth millions in Colombo 7. He further requested the Commission to obtain the declarations made by Mr Bathiudeen to the Election Commissioner in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2010, to compare the assets.
However, Mr Bathiudeen in a statement to the Commission, said the allegations were politically motivated.
“The allegations are clearly politically motivated and are made by a former candidate who contested the 2013 Northern PC elections under Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and lost,”he said.
“I kindly request your esteemed office to expeditiously inquire into whatever allegations therein and reveal the outcome to the general public of Sri Lanka,”he added.
Earlier this week, a complaint was also filed against Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.