Amidst reports that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was preventing the arrest of former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa over the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, President Maithripala has revealed that Thajudeen’s murder case is in fact being suppressed.

Maithripala

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Sirisena said, “the Thajudeen case which is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department is being suppressed.”

He also said that the culprits behind the Treasury Bond scam at Central Bank must be punished.

Sirisena also claimed that his recent statement against the FCID, Bribery Commission and the CID were taken out of context, specially by the English media, which wrongly interpreted him over the statement delivered at SLFI. He said that he was always of the view that investigations and cases into large scale corruption cases should be expedited, but instead some were suppressed, such as Thajudeen’s case, as well as the case over the procurement of the MiG-27 fighter jets.

Sirisena said that he was not intervening in the investigation of such investigation agencies, but it was important to highlight the truth, or else the public will assume that he was not focusing on these matters. “What I am trying to say is that the action should be expedited and done effectively,” he said.

He also said that he was aware that the officers of the Bribery Commission, FCID and CID were doing a great effort, but emphasized that it was important to expedite cases, because some of the cases have dragged on much more than the expected time period of the public.

“The people expected speedy investigations and results. It is already 20 months. The investigations should be expedited as it is nearly two years. The delay is the question,” he said.

Speaking on the COPE Report over the Treasury Bonds at Central Bank, Sirisena reiterated that as the Parliamentary Committee report is out, the report should be submitted to an independent, impartial body which does not have politicians. “If somebody has done wrong, he should be brought before courts,” he said.

Sirisena also added that the media had distorted his statement over the arrest of former commanders.

“As the Minister of Defence, and as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I should be made aware if a serving or retired Commander is arrested and taken to courts. Like those serving, even those retired have links in the armed forces. The public perception should be understood when action is taken. We should not act against the will of the people. We should act in a manner where the wish of the public is fulfilled,” he said.