UNP removes Ravi K as Assistant Leader till bond probes conclude

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday confirmed its three-member committee headed by Foreign MinisterThilak Marapone had recommended UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake should not exercise any duties in his capacity as Assistant Leader until the investigation on bond irregularities by the authorities is over.  

Issuing a statement, UNP General Secretary and Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim said until the Attorney General or the Bribery Commission decides no action is to be filed or if a case is filed then until legal proceedings conclude, Karunanayake will not be allowed to hold his post within the party.   “In the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the issuance of Treasury Bonds, there are no findings against any member of the UNP including Ravi Karunanayake in regard to the issuance of Treasury Bonds,” the statement said. 

“However, the Commission of Inquiry has decided that the Attorney General and the Bribery Commission should determine whether action should be taken against MP Ravi Karunanayake, under the Bribery Act or other appropriate legislation in respect of their findings that he had derived a substantial benefit from the lease payments made by Walt and Row Associates Ltd., which is an associate company of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., which is owned and controlled by the same persons who owned and controlled Perpetual Treasuries Ltd.,” the statement added. 

It went onto say that the Commission had also stated that the Attorney General or other appropriate authorities could also consider whether the evidence given by Karunanayake is shown to have been incorrect and in that case whether there were grounds for prosecution under Section 179 and or under Section 188 of the Penal Code or other relevant provisions of the law, read with Section 9 of the Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948.

“In view of this, the Committee appointed by Leader of the United National Party has recommended that until a finality is reached by the Attorney General and/or the Bribery Commission that no legal action is to be filed against Ravi Karunanayake or if such action is instituted, until the conclusion of such action, steps should be taken to ensure that Ravi Karunanayake should not exercise any duties as an Assistant Leader of the United National Party,” Minister Hashim said in the statement. 

The Report will be presented to the Working Committee in mid-February.