Presidential Secretariat planned to remove Gamlath: Atukorale

• Says his statements violated responsibilities of a public servant
• Gamlath resigned following controversial statements made to media  

Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale yesterday confirmed that the Presidential Secretariat had planned to take action to remove National Authority for Protection of Witnesses and Victims Chairman Suhada Gamlath, unless he stepped down from his post. 

Justice Minister  Thalatha Atukorale

Responding to questions at a press conference held by UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, she said that Gamlath had assured President Maithripala Sirisena that he would step down. Gamlath announced his resignation on Tuesday, after his remarks were published in a Sinhala paper recently. 

"We have no issues with his political ideology, but he has violated procedures which a public servant should follow,” she said.

Gamlath had committed an offence as a public servant by talking to the media on certain issues, she opined, pointing out that she had requested President Maithripala Sirisena to take action against him. The President’s office had assured her that action will be taken, she said, if he did not resign on his own.