UNP urges Ravi to stop functioning as Assistant Leader

The United National Party (UNP) has called on former Minister Ravi Karunanayake to stop functioning as the Assistant Leader of the party.

UNP General Secretary Kabir Hasheem said in a statement today that in the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the issuance of Treasury Bonds, there are no findings against any member of the United National Party including Ravi Karunanayake in regard to the issuance of Treasury Bonds.

However he says the Commission of Inquiry has decided that the Attorney General and the Bribery Commission should determine whether action should be taken against Ravi Karunanayake, MP, under the Bribery Act or other appropriate legislation in respect of their findings that he had derived a substantial benefit from the lease payments made by Walt and Row Associates (Pvt) Ltd., which is an associate company of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., which is owned and controlled by the same persons who owned and controlled Perpetual Treasuries Ltd.

The Commission has also stated that the Attorney General or other appropriate authorities could also consider whether the evidence given by Ravi Karunanayake is shown to have been incorrect and in that case whether there are grounds for prosecution under Section 179 and or under Section 188 of the Penal Code or other relevant provisions of the law, read with Section 9 the Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948.

In view of this, the Committee appointed by the United National Party has recommended that until a finality is reached by the Attorney General and/or the Bribery Commission that no legal action is to be filed against Ravi Karunanayake or if such action is instituted, until the conclusion of such action, steps should be taken to ensure that Ravi Karunanayake should not exercise any duties as an Assistant Leader of the United National Party, Kabir Hasheem said.

Hasheem said the report will be presented to the Working Committee to be held in mid February. (Colombo Gazette)