Officials on the mat:

Pending investigations

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Several officials of the Ministries of Justice and Industry and Commerce, the Handicrafts Board (Laksala) and the Independent Television Network (ITN), are likely to be temporarily removed from their posts until the completion of several on-going investigations, according to reliable sources of these institutes.

Laksala, the two Ministries and the ITN have been notified by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges (PRECIFAC), according to sources.

The list of officials include a prominent Additional Secretary of the Justice Ministry, an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, a director, legal officer, chief engineer, two additional General Managers from Laksala and from ITN the General Manager, Deputy General Manager and an Assistant General Manager.

Allegations against officials of the two ministries and the Laksala were for misusing state resources and funds during the setting up of the recently opened International Arbitration Centre.

The ITN is under investigation on the alleged non-recovery of payments for advertisements of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, broadcast during the presidential campaign 2014 – 2015.

The General Manager of the Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Cooperation, Director of the Coconut Development Board and Mahiyangana Divisional Secretary have also been temporarily suspended from their posts.

Secretary to PRECIFAC, Lacille de Silva told the Sunday Observer said that on the recommendations and approval of the Commission, they were ready to take necessary action to ensure an independent inquiry but did not comment about the requests to temporarily remove officials from their posts. “The cooperation of relevant institutes is essential in carrying out proper investigations as evidence need to be collected properly by the Police team,” he added.