The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that ‘car permit abuse is not a matter of National Importance’ and therefore there is no need for a fuller bench to be nominated to consider the case filed by a right’s activist over the abuse of car permits given to MPs.
However, despite the Attorney General’s stand, the Supreme Court decided to refer the matter to the Chief Justice to consider nomination of a special bench and afforded an early date on 18th July 2016 to the right’s activist to support the case.
The case filed against the President Maithripala Sirisena and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake by rights activist Nagananda Kodituwakku for MP car permit abuse. The Attorney General gave his standing on the matter when the case was taken up at the Supreme Court yesterday.
The activist submitted to the Court that the matter involves gross betrayal of people’s executive and legislative power by the Cabinet of Ministers and MPs as they have betrayed the power entrusted in them by the people purely on trust to commit revenue frauds and therefore there is an unavoidable national duty vested in the Judiciary, to take cognizance of these financial crimes and deal with wrongdoers decisively and appropriately.
Producing two permits and the Customs declarations presented to Customs by Udaya Gammanpila and Asanga Semasighe for clearance of two more Toyota Land Cruisers Diesel vehicles recently, evading the payment of fiscal levies of Rs. 33.5 million each, the activist submitted to the court that the MP permit abuse would incur over Rs. 6 billion in revenue loss as permits are freely sold in the open market for Rs. 25 million or more as the permits have been issued with no conditions attached. Therefore, considering the National Importance in the case where the people’s executive and legislative power have been openly abused the activist requested the Court to fix the matter for early date to support before a fuller bench.
However, the Attorney General submitted to the Court that the ‘permit abuse is not a matter of National Importance’ and therefore there is no need for a fuller bench to be nominated to consider the matter.
Sinhala Banda / July 9, 2016
According to the report…
…….”payment of fiscal levies of Rs. 33.5 million each, the activist submitted to the court that the MP permit abuse would incur over Rs. 6 billion in revenue loss as permits are freely sold in the open market for Rs. 25 million or more as the permits have been issued with no conditions attached. Therefore, considering the National Importance in the case where the people’s executive and legislative power have been openly abused the activist requested the Court to fix the matter for early date to support before a fuller bench”
Hello AG;
If loss of Rs. 6.0 Billion in revenue for the government is not a matter of national importance, what is the price you attach for a matter of national importance? Do you really understand what is important to our national economy? Or may be in your law books there are different threshold for different people of Sri Lanka. Like; if an average citizen does not pay say Rs. 10000 – it is of National importance. On the other-hand, For a member of the Parliament it is Rs.100 Million. I am neither an average citizen nor a Member of the Parliament. I would like to find out what is the threshold attached to me. If I send my profile would you be kind enough to inform me the correct threshold.
Who are you kidding; no wonder people do not have any respect for judiciary in Sri Lanka. Or else are you building a case to not to pursue other mega-Corruption cases giving the same reason; “THEY ARE MATTERS OF NO IMPORTANCE” to National affairs. So the courts can dispose many hundred pending cases against corruption. Hello AG; once Prime Minister Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike said, “even taking home a pencil belonging to the government must be considered under abuse of power.” I was a small kid and it is imprinted in my mind until now. I wonder where you were at that time.
But it is useless for us to test your knowledge on what is important and what is not. But as a Buddhist I would like to say the following to all politicians and their glorified stooges for ransacking the national treasury.
“Stealing from the treasury of citizens of that country is equivalent to STEALING from “THE BEGGING BOWL OF LORD BUDDHA”. An explanation on consequences is not necessary for real Buddhists.
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AshyD / July 9, 2016
Sinhala Banda,
Well said.
Reading through an article I happened to read that the Attorney General had given an opinion in the affirmative on the “Appointment of an Acting Governor” for the Central Bank which had been tabulated at the Monetary Board meeting, during the race to appoint a suitable Governor.
The Secretary Treasury/Finance Ministry had thrown it off as RUBBISH and had said that there was NO PROVISION in the Monetary Act for such an appointment which had been also intimated to the President.
Who have we got as our Attorney General, he seems to be putting his foot in his mouth at all times, wonder if he knows where his “family jewels” are !
We readers should all support activist Mr. Nagananda Kodituwakku in his endeavours IF they are bona fide and not fopr personal gain.
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Gamarala / July 9, 2016
Well said.
May I add this is TAX PAYERS MONEY. People pay taxes each and every time they buy petrol or a kilo of sugar or dhal in Sri Lanka. How can stealing such a big amount of peoples money by politicians considered not a matter of National interest.
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Uthungan / July 10, 2016
Is it surprising with people like the AG in the country’s judiciary that the CJ took the view that nominating defeated candidates as MP’s to parliament is not of national importance?
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punchinilame / July 9, 2016
Conflict of interest in this matter, as the AG himself has a Car Permit
for disposal?
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Kumar / July 9, 2016
POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK.-Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya
Gammanpila will do well by fast-tracking return of the looted funds been warehoused, using this brand new Landcruiser V8 in Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya. These culprits should be brought to book. Redemption is not in singing patriotic old melodies in white clad and fooling the mases in the name of Patriotism and bringing BACK the criminals.
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Ananda Markalanda / July 9, 2016
CNN just released the first exit polls, showing that national issues matter more than local issues to voters this year, with the issue of corruption leading many other issues- just check my friends.
May be not for self-lining corrupt politicians like this guy. Attorney General’s opinion says many things about our law in Sri Lanka
Attorney General’s website :The Attorney General is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government. In that capacity he advises the Government, Government Departments, Statutory Boards and Public Corporations in respect of all legal matters. He conducts prosecutions in criminal cases and appears on behalf of the Government, Government Departments, Statutory Boards and Public Corporations in any Court or Tribunal.
Good luck.
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Paul / July 9, 2016
Well of course its not of national importance. What’s of national importance is that the AG doesn’t criticize Ranil & Sirisena as his position, salary, pension and backside depend on them.
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Dinuk / July 9, 2016
Bravo! Way to go Chief Justice Sripavan and justices of the SC!
Seems that now that the Sinhala army got rid of the evil daemon Prabakaran, Tamils will now save the Sinhalese from themselves – i.e. their corrupt leaders and the politicians who have become a blood sucking CASTE that is feasting on the misery of the Lankan masses at the Diyawenna Parliament of corrupt morons, while Ranil talks non sense about the spuprimacy of the parliament of corrupt clowns!
Thing are looking up for the ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka now that we have a CJ with a brain who is essentially honest and decent unlike the 3 or 4 that preceded him – including the corrupt clown Sarath Silva, Siranee Bandaranaiyke etc.
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KA Sumanasekera / July 9, 2016
Gammanpila pays A$ 97.000 for his Toyta 4WD. Round it off, it is A$ 100,000 .
If he is a real deshapremi and pays the relevant taxes, he has to fork out LKR 33, 459,250.
That is Thirty Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Yahapalana Ruppiah if one rounds it off.
In Aussie it is 350,000. Or Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars.
So the total cost of the 4WD is a wopping Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Australian Dollars.
Where does Gamma park it?. In Wellala Gardens it will be a rust bucket in ten years.
Now to the more serious side, although of not of national interest or importance as our Yahapalana AG says.
Now Gamma sells the permit and pockets LKR 25 Million.
That is A$ 250,000. Or Two Hundred and Fifty thousand Aussie Dollars.
Bloody hell . Gamma would have had to lecture for minimum 8 hours a day for ten years to save that sort of Dosh if he and his family eats and do what normal people do.
If he saves that in EPF, it will take may be 20 years unless he salary sacrifice the whole wage.
No wonder he migrated back.
BTW wonder who the dudes who buy these Permits are ?
Because Yahapalanaya was supposed to have eliminated corruption, nepotism, drug and moon shine importation and all other get rich quick enterprises.
Could they be T Bond Dealers?….
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Jagath Fernando / July 9, 2016
I agree with AG that the amount of Rs 6 billion is not of national importance.
Imagine the wastage and corruption during the last decade and you would say that this amount is petty cash.
1 EPF investments which have now gone bust
2 Bond scam
3 import of essential commodities and gas by government
Norochcholai power plant deal
5 Express ways
6 Defence head quarters
Etc etc
Elections will come up in 2-3 years and these beggars need funds to fight an election.
We live in such a corrupt system and there in no hope whether it is Yahapalanaya or not !!!
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Amarasiri / July 9, 2016
Rights activist Nagananda Kodituwakku
“The activist submitted to the Court that the matter involves gross betrayal of people’s executive and legislative power by the Cabinet of Ministers and MPs as they have betrayed the power entrusted in them by the people purely on trust to commit revenue frauds and therefore there is an unavoidable national duty vested in the Judiciary, to take cognizance of these financial crimes and deal with wrongdoers decisively and appropriately.”
Thank you for all your efforts.
The people have replaced one set of crooks with another set, to steal and rob the people.
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anonymous / July 9, 2016
Hello Mr.AG. Please define the word ‘abuse’ for the 2016 dictionary please. If the tax payers money is not a matter of ‘National Importance’, please give us a clue what they are. You must be the most idiotic AG Sorry Lanka has ever produced.
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vetmahadeva / July 9, 2016
Attorney General Says MP Car Permit Abuse Is Not A Matter Of National Importance
Of course no any legal Books and Journals do not list what are of National Importance!
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vetmahadeva / July 9, 2016
Attorney General Says MP Car Permit Abuse Is Not A Matter Of National Importance
Of course no any legal Books and Journals do not list what are of National Importance!
Attorney General himself has a car permit to be disposed!!
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Samson / July 9, 2016
Hmmmm probably the Attorney General too sold his permit!!
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Migara / July 9, 2016
It is very unfortunate that in the Republic of Sri Lanka Attorney General’s role of defending the Constitution and the Rule of Law is staunchly performed by a private counsel whilst the AG does completely the opposite
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Wimalasooriya / July 9, 2016
When Rajapakse wanted to have an advice whether he could contest for a 3rd term for presidency, a completely private matter, it was considered a MATTER OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
I find it difficult to understand the yardstick use by these people to decide what matters are of national importance.
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muditha / July 9, 2016
There are about 15000 lawyers in this country and no one is dare to support this right activist, who singlehandedly take the whole administration to task and fight for justice for the battered people.
This simply demonstrates total breakdown of the values in this country. All have become just chicken. Sad, but the truth is that.
These are the serious issues that affects the whole nation. It is the national duty of the Bar Association and the Attorney General takes up these issues and NOT by a private counsel.
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Kautilya / July 9, 2016
Dear Muditha;
CORRUPTION BEGETS CORRUPTION; Presence of 15000 Lawyers are not exception to this cardinal rule.
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Gamarala / July 10, 2016
You are absolutely right. This clearly shows that most Sri Lankans are only arm chair critics. They do not want to get practically engaged in a meaningful protest (except meaningless parades on streets obstructing traffic and public life, a practice used 100 years ago). There are only a handful of exceptions like Nagananda Kodituakku, Sarat Wijesuriya, Sunil Perera (through music) etc.
It is the PRIMARY REASON for this country to be controlled by a set of thieves called politicians and some bureaucrats.
People are TOO LAZY to get involved or hold them responsible. THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR OWN WELFARE THAN THE COUNTRIES’ WELFARE. Countries like China have developed because they always put the Country ahead of themselves.
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Sinhala Banda / July 11, 2016
My Dear Gamarala;
“People are TOO LAZY to get involved or hold them responsible. THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR OWN WELFARE THAN THE COUNTRIES’ WELFARE.”
I doubt very much that you have forgotten “Divide and Control”. The lesson 101; Sri Lankan Politics of both SWRDB School of Political Science and JRJ School Politics advocates the division of Sinhala Buddhist votes on SLFP and UNP party lines respectively. You may find ample evidence on this even at family level; Siblings are divided as SLFP fellow or UNP Fellow. This was a crafty plan advocated by these two schools of politics. So it is not people are so lazy as you have stated. They believe, they have to be a UNPer or a SLFPer to improve their lives and economic conditions.
As long as Sinhala Buddhists, the majority is divided along the party lines, the thieves will control the country. JVP and other chauvinist parties are just scavengers benefiting from the throwaways of SLFP and UNP. They have compounded the misery in Sri Lanka.
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Plato. / July 9, 2016
Car permit ABUSE is not a matter of National Importance says the Attorney General.It still remains an ABUSE though.
Nagananda,dont worry the time has come to alert the people for they are Sovereign!
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Diogenes / July 9, 2016
Now,Attorney General himself , should be a Matter of National Importance!
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AshyD / July 9, 2016
On what basis and using which yard stick has the Attorney General concluded that this very blatantly and often misused privilege accorded to Members of Parliament is “NOT A MATTER OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE”.
To consider something is “NOT A MATER OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE” the citizens of this country should endorse it at a National Referendum.
How can the Attorney General come to this conclusion on his own. He is not elected by the people but is appointed by the President and he should at all times uphold the interests of the people and NOT act as a stooge of anyone, be it even Members of Parliament.
When the people are denied the opportunity of buying a brand new vehicle without incurring HEAVY TAXES their elected representatives are given permits to import any vehicle they desire without any strings attached.
These Representatives have been perennially abusing this privilege and selling the permits they receive in the BLACK MARKET at exorbitant rates.
The shame is that in the recent past, even a leading Buddhist monk from a political party that spells out purity on all platforms sold his vehicle permit and was censured in the media which became a National issue.
If this is put to a Referendum, there is NOT AN IOTA of doubt that the people will turnout in their numbers and vote convincingly against this very UGLY practice.
The Attorney General should do what is right and what the people desire and by not doing so he would also be dismissed into the waste basket of our history as another corrupt official who walked the hallowed hallways of our Attorney General’s Department.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / July 9, 2016
The Attorney General should be sent packing for this opinion. I wonder what he considers are of national importance! This country has to be sent to the laundry!
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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AshyD / July 9, 2016
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Perfectly said BUT not to a sophisticated laundry, it should be to a DHOBY who would dash it on the rocks to get all the dirt off.
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thrishu / July 9, 2016
Why look for another laundry. The country was sent to the cleaners by Rajapassa Regime, and now it being sent to the cleaners again by RW and his henchmen. The only dirt ending down the drain is National Assets in the bank vaults of those privileged few hanging on to the coat tails of the ringleaders in power, and those of the ringleaders themselves. Selfish vermin, hope the next thunderbolt will find these targets for all the suffering they were causing to our country and its common folks.
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thondamanny / July 9, 2016
jagath fernando………….. why dwell in the past ????
We have voted for the yahapalanaya. Such things should not happen under yahapalanaya.
Ranil said money is held back and will assist flood victims & kosgama debacle victims.
Even before the dust has settled on these natural disasters, Imported vehicles appeay at the Hambatota Port.
Can Ranil be trusted???
On Ranil’s orders the Bond fiasco took place. At least that was what told at the COPE inquiry.
CAN RANIL & THE YAHAPALANAYA BE TRUSTED?
(02) or 03) weeks ago a shipment deck shoes landed at the Port on a tender for the military. Amount was 200,000 pairs.
What was the cost?? Over USD 14 per pair. It was not even a brand name.
Evaluation committee & tender board, what were they doing? How did this happen? Such a colossal amount for decks brought in annually?
Who was the supplier? State Trading Corp with another.
THIS IS Y A H A P A L A N Y A…………
THIS IS YAHAPALANAYA
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thrishu / July 9, 2016
An AG that considers a loss of 6BN Rs from the National Treasury is not a matter of national importance is really a stupid asshole. I wonder which stupid school he has received his education, as clearly this bloke has no powers of deduction, and I suspect no trace of intelligence in him. I hope the Chief Justice is a little more enlightened on what is right for the good of the country.
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Estate Labourer / July 9, 2016
I don’t think any country in the world has suffered such an unending stream of stupid, corrupt and unprincipled Attorney-Generals as the ones we have had over the past few decades.
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Lankan / July 9, 2016
When so much of revenue will be lost with the vehicle permits when the country needs every single cent to pay the monies stolen by Rajapakse family, how can this Attorney General say that this is not a matter of National Importance? This Attorney General is sleeping on the files where investigations are over. I begin to wonder if he should be kept in this position? Its time COPE or a Parliamentary committee investigates his actions. To me it looks like he is trying to sabotage Yahapalana movement.
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Peterpan / July 9, 2016
From the comments I gather,these honchos their pay masters and policy makers of the house of corruption must plan for their retirement as soon as possible.
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Diogenes / July 9, 2016
His conclusion is enough to prove that he is an idiot! What a bloody Attoney General!
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Yahapalanaya / July 9, 2016
In Sri Lanka corruption is inherited within the society; from top to bottom. AG, judiciary and including top govt. servants will not utter a word against to permit system as they themselves are the beneficiaries of such a system. Successive govts., Starting from pre’ 80 (as far I remember) have been throwing carrots to the judiciary such duty free car permits, govt. lands (Eg. Pelawatte), take home on a concessionary basis the last official car used prior to retirement, purchase luxury cars used by foreign missions from govt. stores are some of indirect bribes that were offered. These shameless people went to the extent of purchasing brand new cars when about to retire to take advantage of the system while Simon, Somapala, Kumar and Mohamud had to work day and night foregoing meals to finance these luxuries. AG won’t utter word as he knows very well that next it would be his turn.
Hats off and big thank you to Mr NK for carrying on this battle alone exposing all these culprits.
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bo / July 9, 2016
May be it is time we find another Prabhakaran, the only man that was in Sri Lanka capable of keeping these corrupt baskets’ heads ducked under the parapet wall out of fear of retribution and disciplined, again out of cowardice.
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Pygmalion / July 9, 2016
Kalu coat karaya Hora.Guinea[gini-fire] Kanawa.
One Guinea=Rs:10.50.
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banana republic / July 9, 2016
No wonder the AG appointed by President is used to licking boots and arses of the ruling party. This dumb traitor to the people does not realise he got free education with our taxes, got a government job paying his salaries and perks with our taxes and now trying to look good in the eyes of some stupid politicians maintained with our taxes. The UN should intrduce laws to prevent these bastards fleecing the member countries as these parasites will be rid off by the peoples soverignity very soon.
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Ralph / July 9, 2016
It is time that we have another Independent Commission to determine the salaries and perks of Parliamentarians. Giving the ladle to serve themselves is not the way to go.
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