3 politicos before bribery commission - Wimal to go on Monday
3 politicos before bribery commission - Wimal to go on Monday
By Niranjala Ariyawansha-2015-03-07
Three ministers of the former United People's Freedom Alliance Government were summoned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), yesterday. They were: Johnston Fernando (Trade and Consumer Affairs), Reginald Cooray (Minor Export Crops) and Rishad Bathiudeen (Commerce and Industries).
Meanwhile, Leader of the National Freedom Front, Former Minister of Housing and Engineering Services Wimal Weerawansa, who had also been summoned to appear before the CIABOC, had informed the Commission that he was unable to be present yesterday and would appear on Monday.
Directress of the CIABOC, Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe told Ceylon Today that Weerawansa has been asked to be present next Monday. CIABOC internal sources revealed that complaints have been received against Weerawansa stating that while he was the Minister of Housing and Engineering Services, illegal activities had taken place at the Ministry and subsequent to becoming a parliamentarian, he had accumulated wealth and assets.
A complaint has been made, to the CIABOC, by a resident of Mannar, R. M. Q. Khan that doubts exist about the assets and wealth earned by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen after 2004. The Directress of CIABOC said that she cannot reveal any details to the media until legal action is taken against the former Ministers. The internal CIABOC sources also revealed that former Minister, Reginald Cooray was questioned for about three hours by the Commission.
Accusations had been levelled against former Minister Johnston Fernando, who is supposed to be the owner of Wayamba Distilleries Company, about several acts of large scale corruption and fraud in connection with Sathosa during the recent past. He has also been accused of dealing in Ethanol on a large scale and being connected to the Ethanol transactions that have taken place within the country.
