Rajitha claims he was offered bribe to cover up Avant-Gard issue

Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne yesterday revealed that he was offered a bribe of Rs. 20 million a month to cover up the Avant-Garde issue.

Addressing a Cabinet media briefing held in Colombo yesterday, Senaratne, who refused to divulge any names, said that the people who attempted to bribe him earn a monthly income of around Rs. 250 million.

“Because the attempt to bribe me failed they spread a story accusing my son of detaining an underage girl. The bribe was extended to me through one of my friends so I cannot disclose the incident because of that friend. However, I am in possession of an audio tape proving the bribery attempt,” he said. 

Responding to a question regarding the court order preventing former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s arrest, Senaratne claimed that the decision proved the independence of the Judiciary.

“During the previous regime, these things changed with one call from the President,” he added.