UNP says Govt. is trying to disrupt bribery investigations

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Micheal Perera told BBC Sandeshaya that the government is looking for excuses not to re-activate the powerfull CC.

The former speaker and United National Party (UNP) strongman was also of the opinion that the government was 'moving towards a dictatorship'.

Media minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa told journalists on Thursday that the government is waiting for recommendations of a parliamentary select committee on amendments to the current constitution.

Parliamentary Committee

"We are earnestly awaiting the Select Committee findings and their related recommendations which we believe would be out soon. We will take prompt action in this regard, once they are known," the minister said.

However, the UNP says the recommendations are not necessary to re-activate the defynct Council.

	Minister says the Govt. is waiting for a parliamentary committee report

"The 17 amendment is the law in this country. You don't need new committees to implement the law," Joseph Michael Perera told BBCSinhala.com.

The 17 mandment was agreed by the parliament in 2001 in order to curtail powers of executive president to appoint many public bodies.

The CC is empowered to recomend nominees to the president for police, elections, human rights and elections commissions.

The UNP legislator also accused the government of trying to interrupt investigations of the Permanent Commission to investigate Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Bribery Commission

The Director General of the CIABOC, Piyasena Ranasinghe, was transfered to the presidential secretariat, last week.

Commission chairman, Retd. Judge Amir Ismail has told media that the investigations were installed as only an acting DG was appointed.

Police Commission is not appointed. No Election Commission. The government is moving towards a dictatorship Joseph Micheal Perera

Joseph Michael Perera, MP, said the CIABOC was investigating many corruption charges against ministers in the Rajaapaksa administration.

"Police Commission is not appointed. No Election Commission. The government is moving towards a dictatorship," he told BBC Sandeshaya.

The UNP is considering legal action against the president, if he keeps rejecting the requests of the opoosition parties.

In a letter to the president last week, the Religious Council (RC) has also urged him to appoint the powerful Council without delay.

Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana thero told BBC Sandeshaya that nobody including the president is not above the law in the country.