It is said that several parties close to the President are calling for the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) chairman to resign until the truth of a recent exposè is revealed.
The calls have come after the CPC chairman had refuted claims raised by a media report that had quoted the convenor of the United Trade Union Alliance – Mr. Ananda Palitha.
The news in question quotes Mr. Palitha as saying that the Director Board of the CPC has been squandering taxpayer money on cashews to munch on during Board meetings.
A statement issued by the CPC Chairman had also noted that legal action will be sought against responsible parties and a complaint will also be lodged with the CID with regard to certain details.
Meanwhile, speaking at a media briefing yesterday (Dec. 19) on the matter, Mr. Ananda Palitha charged said that the government that swept into power with the backing of trade unions, is now suppressing media while threatening to take TUs that are providing information to the media, to the CID.
Noting that he had never given incorrect information to the media, Mr. Palitha said that he had evidence to prove all that he had said.
Slamming the government further, he said that although the government had previously pledged to listen to all criticisms while ensuring media freedom, now, legal action is being taken against those who air such views and against those who publish such critical content.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a writ petition filed by former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with a case against the alleged illegal acquisition of state land under the jurisdiction of the Kelaniya Divisional Secretariat.
The order was issued by a bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Laffar Tahir and Justice Priyantha Fernando.
Former Minister Mervyn Silva and several others are currently in remand custody, as ordered by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court, in connection with the same incident.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has submitted a written complaint to the Chairman of the Election Commission – R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, alleging the unauthorized use of her name and photograph in election campaigning.
In her letter, she claims that UPFA candidates in the Attanagalla electorate are distributing handouts with her photograph without her consent, alongside those of Lasantha Alagiwanna and Sarana Gunawardena,
She also mentioned that she had previously instructed all candidates not to use her name or photograph in any form.
As this constitutes a violation of election laws, she has requested to immediately halt these activities.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that legal action will soon be taken against 03 former ministers accused of using vehicles without proper registration.
He made this statement while addressing a public meeting held in Beruwala.
“No village would even drive a motorbike on the roads without registering it. But there was a time when ministers of this country had imported vehicles even when it was forbidden to do so. They use those vehicles without licenses and with fake number plates. They think that the law does not apply to them,” he said.
