COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister resigned today over corruption charges in a bond scam that is now being investigated, maintaining that he was not guilty of wrongdoing.
In a statement after announcing his resignation, Ravi Karunanayake told parliament, “I have never done anything wrong, and I resign with pride to create a new political culture in Sri Lanka and ensure good governance.”
He said he would continue in the party as a backbench member of parliament, however.
The allegations over Karunanayake, a former finance minister, followed his appearance at a presidential commission last week, and he has not been charged by any court.
President Maithripala Sirisena’s government has pledged to end the rampant corruption that affected the previous government.