Nimal Siripala de Silva appointed as Minister

August 2, 2022 at 3:28 PM

SLFP MP Nimal Siripala de Silva has been appointed as the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Services by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Nimal Siripala de Silva was sworn in as a minister after the Presidential Committee appointed to investigate allegations of bribery against him had reportedly acquitted him of the charges.

In a recent Parliament session, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa revealed that a minister had sought a bribe from the Japanese Company, Taisei.

The matter was raised by the Opposition Leader, based on the news item published in the social, print, and electronic media accusing a cabinet minister of demanding a bribe from Japan’s Taisei Company.

Even though Nimal Siripala de Silva’s name was not mentioned, the former minister called for an inquiry as the matter falls under the ministry that was under his purview.

Nimal Siripala de Silva had temporarily resigned as the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Services pending the completion of the inquiry.

Thereafter, On July 22, a three-member committee was appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, upon the request of the former minister, to probe the allegations.

The committee is chaired by Retired High Court Judge, Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, PC. Meanwhile, Retired Senior Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police S.M. Wickremasinghe and Retired Special Grade Officer of Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) S.M.G.K. Perera are serving as its members.

The committee report on the incident was handed over to Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake on July 31, in which the committee members reportedly found that the former minister is not guilty of the accusations levelled against him. (NewsWire)