Thursday, May 03, 2007

Flash: Sri Lanka Supreme Court strips former President of staff and vehicles

May 03, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Supreme Court today stripped former President Chandrika Kumaratunga of her official staff and 36 government cars.

Claiming that she was not entitled to extravagant privileges, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath Silva stated that it was also “illegal for her to occupy a state bungalow refurbished at huge cost to the state.”

The Court also ordered the former President to pay Rs. 100,000 to three persons who filed the case against her. After stepping down from the Executive Presidency, the former President retained a staff of 198 and used 36 vehicles. According to the Constitution, a former President may have two cars and a staff of about 25.

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