News
Nilame case: CC recommends action against Police Chief
View(s):The Constitutional Council (CC) will ask President Maithripala Sirisena to initiate action against Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera over allegations that he attempted to save a suspect from arrest over a corruption investigation. The decision came after a lengthy discussion on Friday at the CC meeting chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.
An official source said yesterday that the CC would “brief President Sirisena” on the recent developments and also convey its “serious concern over the matter.”
IGP Jayasundera, who was at a Police commemoration event in Ratnapura last week responded to a telephone call. Addressing the caller as “Sir”, he assured him that a person identified as “Nilame” would not be arrested. The Police Chief said that he had spoken to the FCID Director and told him that an arrest, if it had to be made, should be only after consulting him.
FCID officials said they were probing corruption allegations against Dushan Gunasekera, Basnayake Nilame of the Devinuwara Temple. It is alleged to have taken place when he was the CEO of the Mineral Sands Corporation. The CC, at its discussion, had also taken note of a previous warning issued to Police Chief Jayasundera.