I was offered Rs.100 Mn to stay in Govt: Navin

[Datenfee]

I was offered Rs.100 Mn to stay in Govt: Navin

2014-12-02

Nuwara-Eliya District MP Navin Dissanayake, who resigned from his portfolio and joined the UNP, said he was offered a cash inducement of Rs.100 million to stay with the government after his plan to quit it was sensed by some elements.


“I had by then spoken to common opposition candidate Maitripala Sirisena and pledged my support to him. Therefore, I did not want to go back on my word. In politics, we have to take decisions at the appropriate time, be it productive or not. Mr. Sirisena fought for pictorial warnings on tobacco packets. He came under immense pressure from those companies. But, he remained resilient and could not be lured by cash inducements,” Mr. Dissanayake said. (Kelum Bandara)

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/57899/rs-100-mn-to-stay-in-govt-navin

 

[Datenfee]

Sri Lanka main opposition party General Secretary crosses over to government - report
Mon, Dec 8, 2014, 12:50 pm SL Time

Dec 08, Colombo: General Secretary of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party, MP Tissa Attanayake has crossed over to the government, latest media reports from Colombo say.

According to media reports, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had commented that the former UNP general secretary had joined the ruling party.

The President has made this comment addressing the public outside the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya after handing over his nomination this morning.

Earlier today, on the day of accepting nominations for presidential election, the UNP senior party member handed over his resignation from the post to the party leader, party sources said.

Rumors are circulating that the crossed over UNP MP will be given the Health Minister post, left vacant by the defection of former ruling party Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, who is the common opposition candidate challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential election in January.

Attanayake last month strongly denied the rumors that he was considering to cross over to the government and he was offered Rs. 500 million to join the Government.

The UNP MP said he will not cross over to the government and no amount of money can buy over his conscience.

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14B/Dec08_1418023257CH.php