25 July 2016 03:45 pm
The Bribery Commission informed the SC that Mr. Rajapaksa committed the offense contempt by failing to appear before it on May 26.
BC Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe said he had without reasonable cause failed to appear before the Commission and had failed to produce an affidavit in connection with the investigations into his assets.
Singed by BC Chairman T.B. Weerasuriya requested the Supreme Court to initiate proceedings against Mr. Rajapaksa under the Article 105(3) of the Constitution.
The BC said it launched an investigation into Mr. Rajapaksa's assets under the Bribery Act and had suffecient evidence to substantiate an offence of Bribery. Mr. Rajapksa in a letter dated January 19, 2016 had requested further time to send the affidavit and the commission granted further time until March 15. However, on March 15, he had requested a copy of the complaint from the commission.
The commission wrote to him saying it could not provide a copy, as he was not entitled to it and requested him to submit an affidavit by April 17. But it had not been complied with.
Gamini Marapana PC appeared for Mr. Rajapaksa. (S.S.Selvanayagam)