Bribery cases against Mahinda, Basil, Gota and Namal

• JVP files complaints at Bribery Commission 
• Seek to prevent former regime top-guns from leaving the country
• Marxist party also lodges complaint about Former CB Governor Cabraal

MP Sunil Handunnetti, MP Vijitha Herath and Sunil Watagala yesterday lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission over alleged corruption by certain officials from the Rajapaksa regime - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has filed bribery charges against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and members of his family, less than one week after Maithripala Sirisena ousted the incumbent in a startling contest for the presidency. Corruption charges were also filed against ousted President Rajapaksa’s eldest son, Namal and his brother Basil, the Economic Development Minister and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The JVP said it had also filed charges against Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and other ministers in the former Government. The Marxist party said that they were filing the cases on the basis that these officials and ministers had misused public funds for corrupt purposes. The party was hoping the Bribery Commission would prevent the former President and other officials from leaving the country by impounding their passports, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said. According to the Sri Lankan constitution, sitting presidents are immune from legal suit, but there is a precedent for legal action against a head of state after they leave office in the famous Water’s Edge case against ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga. (DB)