State Enterprise Development Ministry Secretary Ravindra Hewavitharana has directed Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya to suspend N. M. Shalila Moonasinghe as Executive Chairman, Litro Gas Company.
He has also directed Amarasuriya to appoint an acting Chairman to fill the vacancy created by his suspension.
Moonasinghe was arrested and remanded under the Money Laundering Act on Tuesday.
The State Enterprise Development Ministry said the Ministry Secretary has taken this action since Litro Gas Company is administered by the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation which comes under the Ministry purview.
Since this money had been withdrawn from an account in the Bank of Ceylon, State Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim has instructed the Ministry Secretary to provide full assistance of the Ministry towards all legal action taken in connection with the Litro Gas Company and the Bank of Ceylon in this regard.
The Minister has also directed the Ministry Secretary to conduct a special investigation at Ministry level too in this connection. Moonasinghe had been Litro Gas Chairman when it was brought under the purview of the State Enterprise Development Ministry and he was re-appointed Litro Gas Chairman under the Government’s 100 days programme.