Colombo, July 10: There is no ground for initiating any impeachment proceedings against President Chandrika Kumaratunga, her spokesman said today amid reports that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is mulling such a move on charges of alleged corruption and misuse of office. "There are no grounds whatsoever," Harim Peiris told a press meet here on reports that the United National Party is planning to impeach Kumaratunga for alleged irregularities including in purchase of 48 bullet-proof and explosion-proof limousines and security motor-cycles.
Peiris said there were no irregularities in their purchase, and no abuse in their usage.
The vehicles had been allocated to the President's security retinue, senior leaders, including the Prime Minister and some ministers, the opposition leader and former ministers who continued to face threat from the LTTE. Peiris lashed out at some ministers for demanding a detailed explanation on the vehicles, including the engine and chassis numbers of vehicles, posing a security threat to their users.
"These custom-built vehicles contained unusual security specifications, and the disclosure of identification details would only encourage potential killers to attempt to infiltrate manufacturing companies to know these specifications, he said.
Impeachment is no political process, but a judicial one, Peirera said.
Bureau Report