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SRILANKA-POLITICS-ARREST
Sri Lanka ex-minister held over phone recording scandal
COLOMBO, Jan 17, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities have arrested a
former minister who allegedly recorded 100,000 phone calls, the sometimes
lewd and compromising contents of which were leaked on social media.
In what has become a major scandal, Ranjan Ramanayake is heard discussing
court cases with judges, police, politicians and local celebrities in some of
the recordings.
Police, who seized hard drives from Ramanayake’s home, said they were
investigating whether the recordings had been used for blackmail or other
criminal activity.
The opposition lawmaker, 56, who was remanded in custody earlier this
week, has said he is being targeted for speaking out against corruption.
In some of the leaked audio tapes, Ramanayake is heard slating the
leadership of his own opposition United National Party, which has since
suspended his membership.
Parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the scandal demonstrated the
moral degradation of the otherwise conservative Buddhist-majority nation of
21 million people.
“Recording private conversations as well as broadcasting them (illegally)
shows the moral decay in our country,” Jayasuriya said in a statement urging
the clergy to encourage higher ethical standards in society.
The leaks have already led to the suspension of a magistrate and
disciplinary action against a high court judge, officials said. Both had
reportedly discussed ongoing cases with Ramanayake.
A senior police detective who had also had discussions with the politician
has been suspended pending an internal inquiry.
Much of the leaked conversations suggested political interference in cases
against senior members of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration
between 2005 and 2015. His brother Gotabaya won the November presidential
election.
Official sources said the leaks could lead to a judicial review of some of
the ongoing cases as well as those that have concluded unfavourably for
Rajapaksa loyalists.
The Attorney General’s office said Ramanayake was in custody for offences
committed under the constitution for “interference with the functions of
Judges.”
He could face up to a year in jail.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1500HRS