|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 12 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| JVP urges President to take-over portfolios of all corrupt Cabinet Ministers "Everyone knows that the Cabinet has now become a caretaker government after the recent dissolution of Parliament and the duty of the caretaker government is to govern the country until such time a new Parliament is appointed and also assist in holding a free and fair election. But UNP Cabinet Ministers who are members of the caretaker government have shirked this duty and engaged in various malpractices by misusing their ministerial powers, said the JVP Politburo in a press release issued yesterday. The release said some examples of such misuse of power were the 52 new appointments made to the People's Bank at the instance of Finance Minister K. N. Choksy and Deputy Minister Bandula Gunawardena and the plans made by Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to distribute 100 acres of land belonging to the Sinharaja Forest among his friends. It is also alleged that Ministers against whom complaints have been made to the Bribery and Corruption Commission have removed the relevant files from their Ministries. It is also alleged that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena who is a non-Cabinet Minister has made arrangements to shift his Ministry to another location. All this time his Ministry was situated in a State building for which the rent was Rs. 30 per cubic foot. But the rent of the new building is Rs. 72 per cubic foot and a total sum of Rs. 9 million had been paid as rent for it. Employees also alleged that Minister Jayawardena had taken away some valuable Ministry items to his residence. Moreover the 71 non-Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers have so far failed to abide by the President's directive and hand over their official vehicles. There is no need to reiterate that the President as the Chief Executive has many options to act against Ministers resorting to corrupt practices during an election campaign period. Therefore, the JVP would earnestly request the President to takeover the Portfolios of all corrupt Cabinet Ministers and implement the law against all errant non-Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers. On behalf of a fair free election the JVP would call upon all progressive forces to come forward and defeat these corrupt practices. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
