VIDEO: Former chief minister accused of misusing state property

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court has issued notice to 13 government officials including former North Central Province Chief Minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake under charges of using state property for election propaganda activities.

North Central Province Civil Appeals High Court Judge Sunanda Kumara Ratnayeke issued notice to 13 officials including the former North Central Chief Minister, Secretary to the Governor and Provincial Chief Secretary to appear before the High Court on August 22.

Notice was issued after a taking up a petition filed by the Anuradhapura ‘Api Puravesiyo’ (We Are Citizens) organization challenging the alleged decision by officials, including Secretary to the Governor, to provide vehicles and other state property belonging to ministries and institutions coming under the North Central Provincial Council for the former Chief Minister’s election activities.

Former North Central Province Chief Minister and Chief Ministerial candidate, Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Secretary to the Governor, Chandra Karunaratne, Provincial Chief Secretary W.G. Dayananda, Secretary to the Provincial Chief Ministry Ananda Kularatne, Secretary to the Provincial Health ministry, Nayana Dissanayake, Secretary to the Provincial Highways Ministry, P.K. Jayalath, Provincial Agriculture Ministry Secretary R.K. Premasiri, Provincial Co-operatives and Trade Ministry Secretary Chanda Chandradasa, Provincial Council Secretary A.M.W.A. Amunugama, Provincial Road Development Authority Managing Director Senarath Pushpakumara, Provincial Education Director Nirmala Ekanayake, Chairman of the Provincial Development Creations and Machinery Agency, Upali Samarajeewa and Chairman of the Provincial Passenger Transport Authority, U.A. Dissanayake have been named as respondents in the petition.