The decisions of Dhammika Perera as a future minister would have a conflict of interests, says CPA

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), in a statement, said that the decisions by businessman Dhammika Perera as a legislator and possibly as a future Minister would have a significant and direct impact on his companies, which creates a direct conflict of interest. The CPA stated it is concerned by several media reports that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has appointed Dhammika Perera to fill the National List seat that fell vacant after the resignation of Basil Rajapaksa. The CPA notes that according to media reports, Dhammika Perera was not a member of the SLPP until a few days ago and that, in any event, his name was not on the list of persons qualified to be elected as Members of Parliament. This is in terms of Article 99A of the Constitution (the “National List”) or any of the district lists submitted by the SLPP for the Parliamentary Election held in August 2020. "Dhammika Perera has business interests in several public and private limited companies covering several important sectors in the economy. Decisions made by Mr Perera as a legislator, and possibly as a future Minister, would have a significant and direct impact on these companies and sectors, which creates a direct conflict of interest. These conflicts of interest are not resolved simply by Mr Perera resigning from official positions held within the companies as he would nonetheless stand to gain significant financial benefits," the CPA announced. CPA stated that in terms of the Constitution, only a person whose name was included in one of the district nomination papers, or the national list submitted by a political party or the independent group is entitled to be nominated to fill such a vacancy in the membership of Parliament. If businesses in which Mr Perera has an interest, enter into or continue with contracts “made by or on behalf of the State or a public corporation”, this could be a violation of Article 91(1)(e) of the Constitution, the CPA further announced