<b>Lashes out at CBK Futile to reply to lies - Ravi</b>

Zacki Jabbar - The Island

Trade Minister Ravi Karunanayake who is being threatened with removal from the cabinet by President Chandrika Kumaratunga lashed out yesterday saying that it was futile wasting time replying the "President’s lies".

President Kumaratunga pressed by Karunanayake to set out the procedure followed by her in importing 49 luxury vehicles at over Rs 2 billion has in turn accused Karunanayake of calling her a "suicide bomber’" at a recent cabinet meeting.

Karunanayake told "The Island" that there was no point in replying the allegations against him in two letters Kumaratunga wrote to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe since "it is a load of blatant lies by a person who has no control of herself and obviously needs professional help".

Asked about reports that the Prime Minister had summoned him for a meeting where he was cautioned following Kumaratunga’s letters the latest of which was sent on Monday, Karunanayake said that it was not correct.

"The Prime Minister has not summoned me for a meeting nor has he cautioned me.We are only seeking details of the purchase of 49 luxury vehicles by President Kumaratunga at over Rs 2 billion and a sophisticated hand bag which could be used for videoing in dull light purchased at over Rs 10 million.These are legitimate questions in the public interest", he said.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s office told "The Island" that an "appropriate reply" would be sent to Kumaratunga in due course.

Kumaratunga in Monday’s hard hitting letter to Wickremesinghe asserted that she has "unfettered discretion" under the constitution to remove Cabinet Ministers from office.

"I am advised that the relevant provision applicable to the removal of a cabinet minister is article 47 or 44(3) as the case may be and the President has an unfettered discretion in the matter", Kumaratunga pointed out.

She has also denied the Prime Minister’s contention in his July 21 reply to Kumaratunga’s first letter dated July, 19 that agreement had been reached on cabinet appointments being made on the Prime Minister’s recommendation in conformity with the inderlying intention of article 44 (1) (b) of the constitution.

-The Island -