JVP calls for Ravi’s removal

Monday, 31 July 2017 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In the face of evidence that has been revealed before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Central Bank Bond Issue, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is calling for the removal of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake from his post.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at an event held in Moneragala yesterday, said that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should take immediate steps to remove Karunanayake, who was the Finance Minister during the period when the alleged fraudulent transaction took place.

“The evidence was revealed before a presidential commission. The commission can only file a report with the Attorney General’s (AG) department. The AG’s Department is the one which can take legal action. However, the AG’s Department is the lawyer for the Government. The AG is the one who appears on a Minister’s behalf when actions are filed against a Government Minister. So then the AG cannot file a case against the Minister,” Dissanayake said.

He claimed that Karunanayake should be removed from his position with immediate effect in the wake of the information uncovered by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

The JVP Parliamentarian stressed that investigations cannot be carried out against Karunanayake while he held a ministerial position.

During the commission hearing last week, evidence came to light that the Former Director of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. Arjun Aloysius paid the rent of the Monarch house which was occupied by Minister Karunanayake. The property was later bought by Global Logistics and Transportation Company (GLTC), in which Karunanayake’s wife and daughter function as directors. Later during the hearings, GLTC Chief Financial Officer B.H.J. Sinnaiah revealed that the penthouse was bought through a loan facility of Rs. 150 million from Seylan Bank to be paid in 15 instalments which was later paid off through money held in the GLTC Chairman’s safe.