President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered a comprehensive inquiry against Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva over an allegation of bribery levelled against him.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) said Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will step down from his Ministerial portfolio of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation.

In a statement, the PMD said the Minister will step down until the completion of an impartial and independent inquiry into the allegation raised against him.

The move comes after Opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa revealed in Parliament yesterday that a Cabinet Minister has demanded a bribe from a Japanese Company recently.

He said the President was allegedly very upset that a Minister who is currently in the Cabinet had demanded a bribe from a company named Taisei in Japan.

MP Premadasa questioned if the country can be built with such a corrupt government, adding that the Prime Minister was calling for solutions from the opposition under such circumstances.

“Please look for those in your Cabinet who are engaged in corruption, taking commissions, and bribes. Who took a bribe from the Taisei Company? Ask the President himself,” he lashed out.

MP Sajith Premadasa further said that all corruption, fraud, and theft must be eliminated from this country to move forward. (NewsWire)