Corrupt ex-secretary of Finance Ministry of Sri Lanka granted permission by Supreme Court to re-enter public service

(September 24, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Supreme Court of Sri Lanka granted today the ex-secretary of the Finance Ministry Dr. P.B. Jayasundara to revoke an affidavit he submitted promising not assume any state office in future.

Seven-member bench of Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Asoka De Silva and comprised of judges Dr. Shiranee Bandaranayake, Saleem Marsoof, Jagath Balapatabendi , K. Sripavan and A. Ratnayake ruled to invalidate the affidavit filed by Jayasundara only Dr. Shiranee Bandaranayake dissenting the judgment.

Supreme Court previously found Dr. Jayasundara guilty of committing damage to the state through his acts in a deal to sell a state land belonged to Ports Authority to John Keells Holdings. Jayasundara was fined Rs. 500,000 for his offense and the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva directed to submit the aforesaid affidavit.

Jayasundara said in a motion filed in Supreme Court that he was asked by the President Mahinda Rajapakse to assume the post of the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the affidavit he submitted under influence was an obstacle to proceed.

Jayasundara is a close associate of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The fundamental rights petition in which Jayasundara was found guilty was filed by veteran leftist Vasudeva Nanayakkara who is also a close associate of the President and a President's adviser too.