Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Former Disaster Management Minister Ordered to Repay Rs.6.6m for Vehicle Misuse
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has directed former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie to reimburse Rs.6.6 million to the state after finding he violated constitutional rights by using a government vehicle for personal purposes.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Supreme Court delivered its verdict on September 29, determining that Fowzie's misuse of the official vehicle breached Article 12(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to equality before the law.
The court's decision requires the former Disaster Management Minister to pay the substantial sum into the Consolidated Fund as compensation for the unlawful use of state resources. The ruling represents a significant judicial assertion of accountability standards for public officials.
The case underscores ongoing scrutiny in Sri Lanka regarding the proper use of government vehicles and resources by state officials. The Supreme Court's intervention signals the judiciary's commitment to upholding constitutional protections against misuse of public assets by those in positions of authority.
This development reinforces expectations that government officials must maintain strict compliance with regulations governing state property and resources, with financial penalties imposed for violations of these standards.