Taking over ministerial room: CC Secy. General responds to accusations

By Saman Indrajith

Secretary General of the Constitutional Council, Dhammika Dassanayake yesterday (16) alleged that attempts were being made to tarnish his reputation.The former Secretary General of Parliament said so when The Island sought his response to an allegation that he had moved into a room designated for ministers.

Parliamentary sources said Dassanayake, who took over the room during his tenure as Secretary General, had turned down a request for allocating an office room for the Attorney General, citing lack of space. However, in his current role, he had reportedly used his authority to secure a ministerial office for himself, sources alleged.

Dassanayake retired during the previous government but secured his current position on the Constitutional Council staff.

Despite the establishment of a dedicated office complex for the Constitutional Council at the Sravasti Building in Cinnamon Gardens, the Secretary General had refused to move there, citing facilities available at the parliamentary complex.

As a result, the Sravasti office had remained unused for an extended period, sources said.

Dassanayake said the issue had been created by a section of parliamentary staff prejudiced against him.

“I served as Secretary General of Parliament for 12 years and was part of this institution for nearly 30 years. Until recently, I had not been provided with an office. Now that I have been allocated one, my team and I can do our work more efficiently.