Sri Lanka’s minister of justice has been sacked this morning, following criticism of the current government over a financial deal with China and after he allegedly delayed investigating cases of bribery and corruption.
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who also heads the ministry for the Buddha Sasana, was accused by the prime minister of deliberately preventing the investigation of corruption and fraud committed by the previous government. Mr Rajapakshe was known to be close to the previous regime.
He also criticised the Sri Lankan government’s decision to sell a 70 percent stake in Hambantota port to China for $1.1 billion last month.
Government spokesman Gayantha Karunathillaka said Mr Rajapakshe had “violated collective cabinet responsibility by openly speaking against the deal.”
"Minister Rajapakshe was told to issue a retraction of his comments, but he refused and instead challenged the Prime Minister (Ranil Wickremesinghe) to sack him," Economy Next reported a government source as saying.
His expulsion comes just days after the Sri Lanka’s finance minister was forced to resign over corruption allegations.