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Case against PSD Director: Three Ministers to press for special debate on bail procedure

by Ravi Ladduwahetty

A Group of senior Government Members of Parliament will press for a parliamentary debate through a special resolution if the manner in which the bail application of the Director of the President's Security Division Nihal Karunaratne is handled in the same manner that PA MP Ajantha de Zoysa was handled, authoritative political sources told the Daily News yesterday.

These political sources point out that the appeal which was filed by de Zoysa was so unprecedented that the Attorney General's Department was present in the Court of Appeal at the time the bail application was filed in contrast to the normal practice where the Attorney General's Department and Criminal Investigations Department (CID) being notified by Court subsequently.

The prime movers of this special Parliamentary resolution are Minister of Agriculture, Samurdhi and Livestock S.B.Dissanayake, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Ravi Karunanayake and Minister of Lands Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

In the case of Ajantha De Zoysa, he had been issued three revolvers and ammunition from the armoury of the Sri Lanka Air Force with the approval of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. These weapons were to be used in the assassination of a key politico prior to the December 5 polls, these sources alleged.

Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Samurdhi Ministry Cyril Gunapala is to be arrested over the illegal handing over of 32 Ministry vehicles to the PSD prior to the December 5 polls. These vehicles had been used for murder and mayhem in Udathalawinna, Hanguranketha, Hewaheta and Kundasale and in other upcountry areas.

It is alleged that Mr. Gunapala had handed over these vehicles at the time he was Ministry Secretary and when the Samurdhi portfolio was retained by President Kumaratunga.

These vehicles, which were used by the Additional Secretaries, Directors, Assistant Directors etc had been handed over to the PSD without any drivers, which itself, is against the stipulated regulations. The Ministry has specifically mentioned that the release of vehicles should be accompanied by drivers, these sources pointed out.

Of these 32 vehicles, 11 have been taken into custody and there are without the basics of even the spare wheels, tool boxes, jacks.

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