Salary arrears issue of ex-Bribery Commissioners:

President's Secretary looking into matter - SSC

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The issue of alleged non-payment of full salary arrears to the former Chairman and two Commissioners of the Bribery Commission was under the consideration of the Secretary to the President, Senior State Counsel Harsha Fernando submitted to Supreme Court yesterday.

Fernando also submitted that the Attorney General is seeking further instructions from the Secretary to the President.

He made the submissions when the rights application filed by the Chairman and two commissioners were mentioned before Court.

The Bench comprised Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga, Justice PA Ratnayake PC and Justice Chandra Ekanayake.

Petitioners, Bribery Commission Chairman Ameer Ismail and two Commissioners P Edussuriya and Indra de Silva cited the Bribery Commission Director General, Deputy Director General, Secretary to the President and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioners claimed that their salaries have been erroneously computated and as a result they have been deprived of a significant portion of their salaries which is lawfully due to them in terms of the Parliamentary determination dated January 19, 2009.

They stated they were entitled to a monthly allowance of 250 litres of petrol or its cash equivalent from February 2009 up to the end of their terms on March 28, 2010 and sought a Court Order to that effect.

They stated that the decision to pay only fixed fuel allowance to them with effect from February 02, 2009 was erroneous and null and void.

The Petitioners sought a Court Order for the payment of the arrears of increased salary from January 1, 2006 upto the end of January 2009.

President's Counsel Faiz Musthapha instructed by Gowry Shangary Thawarasa appeared for the petitioners.

SSC Harsha Fernnado appeared for the respondents.