Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe also simply known as Dilrukshi Dias is the 46th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka.[1] She has held several posts during her career including the position of Director General of the Bribery Commission. In September 2019, she involved in controversies regarding the direct links which she maintained with Avant Garde chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi.[2] In October 2019, Sanjay Rajaratnam replaced Dilrukshi Dias as the acting Solicitor General following the controversial phone call with Avant Garde chairman.[3]
Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe | |
|---|---|
| 46th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka | |
| In office May 2019 – October 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Dappula de Livera |
| Succeeded by | Sanjay Rajaratnam |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Career
editBefore her appointment as Solicitor General, she served as a high-profile Director General of the Bribery Commission.[4] She was appointed as the 46th SG in May 2019 by Public Service Commission replacing Dappula de Livera.[5] Following her controversy, in October 2019, she was succeeded by Sanjay Rajaratnam as the Solicitor General.
Controversies
editIn September 2019, she was levelled with allegations regarding the direct contact with corrupted Avant Garde while serving as the Solicitor General. Dilrukshi Dias involved in a controversial telephone conversation with the chairman of Avant Garde, Nissanka Senadhipathi through her Facebook account which was later reported to have been leaked by the Avant Garde chairman himself to the public.
Following the leaked telephone discussion, she criticised the Avant Garde chairman and said that such discussions shouldn't be disclosed to the public while being the government officer.[6] She also urged the chairman to publicly disclose the conversation without editing the contents.[7] Dilrukshi later claimed allegations that one of the ministers in the cabinet was involved in establishing contact between her and the chairman of Avant Garde.[8]
Referring to the facts revealed by Dilrukshi, President Maithripala Sirisena urged her to disclose the name of the minister whom she mentioned and to reveal other politicians who are behind the Avant Garde case.[9]
On a public statement, Maithripala Sirisena made allegations against the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe for requesting Dilrukshi to be appointed as new Supreme Court judge.[10] The allegation made by him referring to Dilrukshi Dias was later refuted by Ranil Wickramasinghe in a public speech.[11]
References
edit- ^ "PSC appoints new Solicitor General". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Solicitor General in hot water over leaked audio?". Sunday Observer. 2019-09-22. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ admin (2019-10-02). "Sanjay Rajaratnam appointed acting Solicitor General". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ "I will not care about any pressure in future…". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
- ^ "Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe appointed as new Solicitor General". Newsfirst. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Dilrukshi responds to Avante Garde phone call". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Dilrukshi wants entire phone call released". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ admin (2019-09-21). "Dilrukshi drops a bomb, says Minister involved". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Sunday Times - President asks Dilrukshi to reveal politicians who influenced filing of Avant Garde case". Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ LBO (2019-09-24). "Dilrukshi Dias debacle – PM releases a special statement". Lanka Business Online. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ "Sunday Times - Prime Minister rejects President's claims on SG Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 24 September 2019.