Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament yesterday that information has been received about a person named Chamara Gunasekera in connection with an alleged bribe of US$ 250 million to delay the prosecution of the X-Press Pearl ship. The minister said that what he is revealing is information he has got and he cannot take responsibility for them
and whether it could be used as evidence. He said relevant authorities should investigate the revelations and take appropriate action.
The Minister said that the Criminal Investigation Department will conduct an investigation on the orders of the Inspector General of Police and that the officials will reveal information about this in the future.
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said this in response to a question raised in this regard by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27 (2).The minister also mentioned that there were various obstacles in the process of getting compensation from that ship.
Minister Rajapakshe, who says that the ship was released despite the advice of the Attorney General not to take it out of the Sri Lankan waters, said that the order to release the ship was given by the former Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary, Admiral Jayantha Colombage.
Minister Rajapkshe said that this matter was not something that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was aware of and many parties mentioned the name of Nalaka Godahewa as the person who made this request.
The minister said that he saw a statement made by MP Nalaka Godahewa on television sometime ago that the dead turtles are piling up not because of the damage caused by this ship, but that turtles are piling up during the monsoon season anyway.
He said that a Parliamentary Select Committee should be appointed to look into this and someone should take responsibility for this.
Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe also mentioned:”Since the ship was allowed to go that day, we have to file two or three cases in courts and cannot find the defendants. We are suffering because we cannot distribute the summons. We will not receive our loss. We will not receive compensation for the damage.”
Galle District MP Chandima Weerakkody said that this compensation should have been received two years ago. But it didn’t happen. That matter should be found. The name Chamara Gunasekara also came to me. I want to find out who he is and for whom he got the money. We need to find out whether the compensation was delayed due to a money transaction. Also, a select committee should be appointed to find the facts regarding this incident.
State Minister Arundika Fernando said this ship caused great damage to the lives of all the people. Go to the west coast today. This damage happens every day. Plastic pieces are still very popular today. Our fish stocks were greatly affected. We have agreed to conduct the case in Singapore. The New Diamond ship is also mentioned here. A selection committee should be appointed about this. Even the small amount that was paid for this destruction has been stopped. They don’t even give money to collect the plastic pieces.
MP Nalaka Godahewa said “I want to say something about the X-press Pearl ship. If the compensation was delayed, the two former Justice Ministers should take responsibility for it.”
Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe:The ship was released when the Attorney General said not to release the ship. Former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has not asked for the release of the ship.
MP Nalaka Godahewa:I have never asked to release the ship. I am also of the opinion that it was wrong to let it go.
State Minister Arundika Fernando: You are entirely to blame for this.
Opposition chief organizer Lakshman Kiriella: This incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka. Don’t you have faith in our judiciary? The government has no faith in our judiciary. Why is this case being filed in Singapore? We should be ashamed of that.
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe: MP Kiriella’s statement is wrong. We acted according to the instructions of the Attorney General.
Gampaha District MP Nimal Lanza: We cannot act according to the instructions given by Pandits here. We acted according to the instructions of the Attorney General.
MP Kiriella: The CCTV footage related to this ship has been destroyed. There is a big conspiracy here.
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