Gammanpila wants Bribery commissioners to resign

Referring to the phone telephone conversation between Avant-garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and Bribery Commission former Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila said the commissioners of the Bribery Commission should step down.

Addressing a news briefing, he said Mrs Wickramasinghe had revealed that the case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa was filed on the political influence and added she had already accepted this fact.

“Clause 4 of the Bribery Act No. 11 of 1954 underlines that Bribery Commission Director General can prosecute only on the advice of the commissioners. The Director General cannot proceed with any legal action unless he or she is ordered by the commissioners,” Gammanpila said. Accordingly, it becomes obvious that the orders to prosecute Mr Rajapaksa against the Avant-garde case had been transmitted to

Mrs Wickramasinghe by the commissioners.

He stressed the three commissioners should uncover the truth whether they were influenced or the Director General had acted on her own accord. Otherwise, the commissioners must resign with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, he said the tender for the laptops to be distributed among the students had been awarded to a company, which had been helpful to the Education Minister. “The use of laptops has serious health advisories, which had been ignored by the ministry.

This fact should be taken into account. However, it seems the ministry is attempting to proceed with the project irrespective of the serious health implications due to the use of laptops,” Gammanpila added.