Legal constraints prevent revealing names

20 June 2014 03:09 pm

The government in Parliament today declined to reveal the names of Cabinet and non Cabinet Ministers accused of bribery charges since 2005, due to legal constraints.

United National Party (UNP) MP for the Ratnapura district Dunesh Harsha Gankanda raised a question in this regard, asking for the names of such ministers accused of bribery charges. He also asked about the number of complaints made against them with the Bribery Commission.

However, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane, who spoke on behalf of the ruling party, said such details could not be placed before Parliament due to constraints in the relevant law passed in this respect.  

Mr. Gankanda said the names of officials accused of bribery were revealed in the media, but the politicians, faced with corruption allegations, had the chance of keeping their names not divulged to the general public.

The Chief Whip said all had to stick to the provisions of the parliamentary act introduced in this regard.

“The act does not provide for the revelation of such names. Then, we have to follow the law passed by this august assembly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga asked who was responsible for the assault on Ven. Aparakke Vijitha Thera .

Mr. Gunawardane answered back saying, “That question does not arise from the answer given to the question on bribery allegations. Therefore, it is impertinent for you to raise it in terms of the Standing Orders. When the Chief Opposition Whip messes up everything, the entire opposition will be in disarray.” (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)