Minister Faizer Mustafa under fire for silence over bank account of Uva PC

Both Government and Opposition MPs today berated Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faizer Mustafa  for refusing to answer a question raised in Parliament regarding the a bank account of the Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council.

When the question was raised by UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri relating to the use of the account of the Uva PC  been taken over for personal use  by the Chief Minister of the Province, Minister Mustafa said that  this was regarding a personal account of a persons and he would not answer such questions in the House.

However his refusal to answer the questions drew the ire of several Ministers as well as MPs from both of the House.

Minister of Kabeer Haseem and Ranjith Maddumabandara both berated Minister Mustafa for his refusal to answer a question raised by a fellow MP.

“Any MP can raise any question here and the Minister is bound to reply. He cannot refuse to answer it,” Minister Hasheem said.

JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka also criticized the Minister for his comment. “This is the second time he has refused to answer this question,” he said.

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged that Minister Mustafa was providing legal counsel to the Chief Minister in question and hence he was shielding the persons concerned.

Minister Mustafa accepted that he had provided the Chief Minister concerned legal counsel but said he would give a reply to the question later.

(CK)