The Bribery Commission is to file charges against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake’s husband, Pradeep Kariyawasam today (25), reliable sources said.

A senior government minister said that although the commissioners of the Bribery Commission are divided over the move to file charges against Kariyawasam, a very senior official in the government is pushing for the case to be filed without any delay. The minister said it is believed that the case against the Chief Justice’s husband would have an impact on the verdict to be delivered on the cases filed against the controversial Divi Neguma Bill.

The Bribery Commission is to file charges over the incident related to the purchasing of shares at The Finance Company by the National Savings Bank (NSB). Former Court of Appeal Judge, L.K. Wimalachandra during the investigation into the transaction had determined that one person could not be held responsible for the transaction since the share purchase had been carried out with the consent of the NSB Board of Directors. The investigation noted that Kariyawasam could not be held solely responsible for the transaction merely because he was the NSB Chairman.

However, a charge sheet is to now be filed against Kariyawasam by an unseen force at a time when Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, Justice Jagath Balapatabendi is overseas. Our sources said that it was a clear indication that certain elements were trying to put pressure on the Chief Justice to prevent her from carrying out her duties and to create an impact through it on Supreme Court decisions.