Justice Minister of Sri Lanka resigns

Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe resigned due to constant pressure from his party and President Maithripala Sirisena following accusations of pressurising the Attorney General's office to hold off investigations against the country's previous regime.

Various ministers of the United National Party (UNP), part of the ruling coalition, had threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against Rajapakshe in Parliament and had urged Sirisena to sack him, Efe news reported.

"The President has sent the Justice Minister a letter informing him about the UNP request to remove him from his post. The Minister has accepted the letter and the President's decision," Cabinet Spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka said at a media briefing.

Rajapakshe, who also held the post of Buddhist Affairs Minister, has been accused of trying to influence the Attorney General's department to delay corruption cases opened against members of the regime of ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He is also accused of violating the government's collective responsibility by opposing the lease of the strategic southern port of Hambantota given to China at the end of July. Rajapakshe has denied all allegations. 

His exit comes barely two weeks after Ravi Karunanayake resigned as the country's Foreign Minister for alleged corruption in a bond scam case dating back to 2015, for which he faced a no-confidence motion.