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President removes Bribery Chief
Wednesday, 20 February 2008 - 8:59 PM SL Time
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday issued a controversial order transferring the Director General of the Permanent Commission Investigating Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (COIBOC), Piyasena Ranasinghe with immediate effect. Informed sources said the Director General who was a judicial officer appointed to the Bribery Commission by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has been transferred to the Presidential Secretariat. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga confirmed that Ranasinghe had been informed of his transfer and asked to report to the Secretariat in due course.
It is learned the Director General was overseeing the investigations into the controversial MiG deal and the COPE report forwarded by parliament at the time the transfer order came. The complaint on the MiG deal was made by SLFP(M) MPs Mangala Samaraweera and the late Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi. The Wijedasa Rajapakse led COPE report was forwarded for inquiry by the Secretary General of Parliament, Priyani Wijesekera.
I received a letter informing me of the transfer. However, no prior notification was given. I do not wish to comment any further on the matter, the ousted COIBOC Director General said.
Informed sources said President`s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga had summoned Ranasinghe on Monday and directed him to resign. It is learned Ranasinghe had refused to do so stating he had committed no wrong other than investigating matters before him impartially. However, on Tuesday, the order transferring him to the Presidential Secretariat was issued by the President with a copy to the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Amir Ismail.
Ismail confirmed that a copy of the order transferring the Director General was received by him. A senior official of the Bribery Commission confirmed that, according to Clause 16.1 of the Act which established the Bribery Commission, the President is only vested with power to appoint the director general. It does not give him the power to dismiss or transfer an appointed official. The Act No. 19 of 1994 was introduced by Parliament to ensure the establishment of an independent anti-corruption commission without interference by the President or any other executive arm of the government. However, responding to allegations that Ranasinghe had been transferred by the President in violation of the Bribery Act, the President s secretary insisted the President did not have to give any reasons for this move or issue prior notice to the relevant parties. Weeratunga said the authoritarian power has the right to appoint, remove or transfer anyone in the Commission. The Director General`s transfer order by the President said it was done to facilitate the restructure of the Commission and appoint a new person to the job. Ms. Lakshmi Jayawickrama has been appointed as the acting director general, according to a COIBOC official. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, Tuesday, issued an order against the recent transfer of another bribery official. A.S.P. Premashantha, the officer in-charge of the Assets Division of the Commission -- the division which handles the most sensitive cases -- was suddenly transferred out of the unit a month ago. This external transfer order was carried out, despite the fact that the Commission itself had not made any request for his transfer. However, A.S.P. Premashantha had obtained a stay order and reported to work from Tuesday. In his petition, A.S.P. Premashantha had noted that he was handling a `sensitive investigation` at the time of the unceremonious transfer. Attorney, J.C. Weliamuna Tuesday obtained a Stay Order from the Supreme Court on the transfer of OIC Premashantha and the very day the order transferring the Director General was issued by the President. A senior lawyer said the President is the appointing authority of the Director General and could remove him but that it was not a transferable service and therefore the order may not be valid in law. It is learned the Director General is likely to challenge his transfer in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Transparency International Sri Lanka, part of the global coalition against corruption has in a statement said it is shocked to learn that the President has transferred the Director General of the only anti-corruption body in Sri Lanka. The President only has power to appoint persons to the commission as per the Act which established the independent COIBOC. The President has no authority to transfer or remove personnel serving in the commission,` Transparency International, Sri Lanka, Executive Director J.C. Weliamuna said.
`The Act No.19 of 1994 was introduced by Parliament to ensure an independent anti corruption commission without interference by the President or any other executive arm of the government. However, the instant transfer has definite adverse impact on the independent working of the commission. It is not only unusual and questionable but also setting an irreversible bad precedence on the anti corruption work in the country,` Weliamuna said.
`Officials attached to the COIBOC can only be transferred if the commission itself makes a request for that individual to be transferred. No such request has been made on this occasion. The current director general has served in that capacity for the past 5 years,` he said.
`This move will dilute the independence of the commission and send out the wrong signals, which would curb the space needed to carry out sensitive investigations. Furthermore, this would set a bad precedent to all independent commissions that are supposed to function without being influenced by the executive,` Weliamuna said.
Meanwhile opposition parties Tuesday urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take steps to appoint the Constitutional Council without delay.
President Rajapaksa`s political ally, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) accused the government of trying to get away with not appointing the CC, even after political parties agreed for the member to represent minor parties in the parliament.
In a statement to the parliament, JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa said it is possible to take judicial recourse if there is any dispute on whether their nominee is qualified to hold the post.
The minor parties agreed to former Auditor General, CS Mayadunne, as their nominee for the CC, breaking the months long deadlock that delayed the appointment of the CC.
The Council that has powers to appoint the public bodies such as police, human rights and election commissions was the result of the 17 amendment to the constitution agreed by Sri Lanka parliament in September, 2001.
The amendment was aimed at reducing the unlimited powers enjoyed by Sri Lanka`s executive president under the 1978 constitution.
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Louise Arbour, recently criticised President Rajapaksa`s action to appoint the national human rights commission (NHRC) without the approval of the CC.
She was of the opinion that president`s action that violated the constitution has seriously damaged NHRC`s reputation.
The failure of the JVP that actively supported the 17 amendment and other minor parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to agree on a common candidate resulted in the CC being dysfunctional for months.
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Revy
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 20 Feb 2008 15:03:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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One thug retires in Cuba and another is trying very hard to take his place, well done Mahinda the Modaya :)
I call him a first class modaya, only because by this act, even if there was no corruption involved, the whole world now thinks there was :):)
Thank you VP once again, for electing this moron to lead the southern sheep :)
Edited By - Revy - 20 Feb 2008 15:06:40 GMT |
srimal111
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 20 Feb 2008 15:09:06 GMT Report for Abuse
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President removes Bribery Chief
if thats what it takes he he !!
Could VP remove Karuna from East ?
or did Karuna remove VP from East he he
This shows who in control of the country he he !
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whatreallyhap
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 20 Feb 2008 15:10:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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President removes Bribery Chief
Soon worms skeletons and who knows what will be crawling out of the Rajagfoxshes closet,...................ha ha ha ha
Just wait and watch the fun.
Bribery Chief will soon be getting a white van ride..........no?
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Thambi
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20 Feb 2008 15:13:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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even if there was no corruption involved, the whole world now thinks there was :):)
ONE RAJAPAKSE or RAJAPASES are trying to hind something ! |
Thambi
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20 Feb 2008 15:15:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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President removes Bribery Chief
the president should consider removing top official who gave arranged safe passage to Karuna using a diplomatic passport - this is the biggest crime and shame for the country . |
Rapaport
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 20 Feb 2008 15:15:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mervin Will be the best replacement! Mahinda Chinthana Jayaweva!
Edited By - Rapaport - 20 Feb 2008 15:16:34 GMT |
srimal111
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20 Feb 2008 15:16:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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whatrealyhapns and Thambi anna
why bother about the failed state sri lanka when you have your Elam. Why hate it when you have got your own kosovolam
he he
Edited By - srimal111 - 20 Feb 2008 15:17:01 GMT |
whatreallyhap
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20 Feb 2008 15:16:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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if thats what it takes he he !!
Could VP remove Karuna from East ?
or did Karuna remove VP from East he he
This shows who in control of the country he he !
Are all you Singlese ( Single celled creatures)just like this guy?
God help SillyLanka.
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srimal111
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20 Feb 2008 15:18:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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whtrealyhapen
Are all you Singlese ( Single celled creatures)
he he yea we are single celled. you guys have none he he
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whatreallyhap
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20 Feb 2008 15:23:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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President removes Bribery Chief
The very person investigating him and his brothers purchase of MIGs .
How much dose one has to know the motive for MR's actions?
I am very sure there will be Punaku eating , boot licking, Mahinder faithfuls who will defend the action. But only a small minority, the rest will realize their folly in electing him as president |
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