Sri Lanka's embattled Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned on Thursday over a murky apartment deal involving a suspect in the Central Bank bond scam.
The minister made the announcement while making a special statement in parliament on Thursday. In his statement, he dealt with his extensive political career and the threats faced and lashed out at opponents and the parliamentary opposition in particular.
The one-time finance minister is battling accusations that he was staying at an apartment for which the lease was paid by a suspect in the Central Bank bond scam, raising serious conflict of interest and ethical issues. The minister has denied any wrongdoing, saying the deal with the apartment was handled by his family and he was not aware of its contents or parties involved. However public calls have been mounting for his resignation.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking after Karunanayake, said that these developments show the honesty and good governance of the government in allowing the judiciary to function independently unlike the previous regime, creating a new culture of accountabiliity. ENDs-
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Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
Israel, a major player in the global diamond and jewellery trade, has invited Sri Lankan gem and jewellery businessmen and designers to collaborate with Israeli diamond traders.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
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