Cabinet never decided to halt accepting deposits: PM contradicts Hapuhinne

Contradicting Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinne, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said Cabinet never took a decision to halt accepting deposits from candidates for the Local Government election.

He told Parliament that Cabinet never took a decision to halt accepting deposits as someone claimed and said such claims were completely false.

The Prime Minister said he, in the capacity of being the Minister of Public Administration, never gave such an order and said the Public Administration Ministry Secretary recalled his letter on the same day.

National People's Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Cabinet Secretary had informed this order officially to the Elections Commission and Public Administration Ministry Secretary and said it was a serious situation if the Cabinet Secretary, as the competent authority, conveyed false messages and misleading that those decisions have been taken by the Cabinet.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asked what action would be taken against Public Administration Ministry Secretary, if he was at fault.

The Prime Minister said Hapuhinne withdrew his order on the same day and said there had been similar incidents where Ministry Secretaries withdrew order made earlier on. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)