Commissioners disgruntled with the Bribery Commission Chairman’s conduct

Thursday, 04 October 2012

Commissioners of the Bribery Commission are disgruntled with the arbitrary acts of the Commission’s Chairman, former Supreme Court Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, sources from the Commission said.

Sources said the commissioners who had investigated into the complaint against the Chief Justice’s husband, former National Savings Bank (NSB) Chairman, Pradeep Kariyawasam’s had informed the Commissioner’s Chairman that there was no evidence to file a bribery case against Kariyawasam. However, sources said there were doubts over why the Chairman continues to maintain the file as an open investigation when the investigators have “specifically stated” that there was no evidence to follow the investigation. The employees at the Commission are now wondering if the Chairman was being manipulated by an unseen hand to act in this manner.

Balapatabendi and former Chief Jsutcie Ashoka de Silva are related. Balapatabendi’s son is married to de Silva’s daughter. The President had appointed Balapatabendi’s son as the first secretary to the Sri Lankan embassy in the Netherlands while de Silva’s daughter is engaged in higher education in the same country.

Therefore, there’s considerable doubt whether the Bribery Commission Chairman is acting in this manner as mark of gratitude for the favor granted.