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Fonseka reiterates allegation Justice Minister is corrupt
View(s):Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka who made a startling revelation this week accusing Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe of hiding his close relationship with the chairman of Avant Garde Maritime Services, a company that is the subject of a Government inquiry into bribery and corruption, this week threw back the gauntlet by replying a Letter of Demand from the Minister reiterating his oft-repeated allegation that the Minister is corrupt.
Minister Rajapakshe’s lawyer, Sanath Wijewardane had sent a Letter of Demand claiming Rs. 500 million from Field Marshal Fonseka on November 13 for making what he called were false and misleading statements during a press conference at his party headquarters recently.
At the press conference, the former Army Commander had repeated what he says he had said at an election rally in Maharagama that the Justice Minister was corrupt, took bribes from Avant Garde, protected the company and that the people should not vote for such a person.
The Minister’s letter referred to the various offices he has held including that of being a Cabinet Minister, a one-time chairman of the Parliamentary oversight committee COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), former chairman of Lake House and the Press Council among several others and that he has been awarded a doctorate and several honorary titles and honours and is widely respected by the public.
In his reply, Gen. Fonseka says that he maintains what he has said about the Minister and that the Minister has told Parliament that he had given instructions not to arrest (former Defence Secretary) Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with an inquiry into Avant Garde which amounted to interference with the Attorney General’s Department, that he has abused his ministerial position and that he has not divulged his affiliation with the chairman of the company, Avant Garde.
Gen. Fonseka’s reply has been sent by his lawyers, Samararatna Associates. The exchange of Letters of Demand come in the backdrop of a continuing slanging match between the two politicians who worked together to defeat former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 8 election.
In one of the press conferences the Minister said that he had gifted national dresses to the General who contested the 2010 Presidential election, but the General shot back saying the cloth was of such poor quality that his driver used it to wash his car.
This week, Gen. Fonseka released several photographs showing a trip the Minister had made back in 2006 in the company of the chairman of Avant Garde to the US, together with their families.
Avant Garde, which ran a floating armoury from the Galle port to defend commercial ships against sea pirates is being investigated by Government agencies for illegal activity, if any.