The Bribery Commission today (May 16) told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent statement regarding a treasury circular was factually incorrect and had the potential to interfere with an ongoing bribery probe related to Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.
Addressing a special media briefing, Wickremesinghe had claimed that a 2015 circular issued during his tenure as Prime Minister permitted provincial councils to withdraw fixed deposit funds before maturity, a defence cited concerning former State Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake’s case.
However, the Bribery Commission clarified that the circular was only issued on November 22, 2016, while Dassanayake had made the withdrawal on February 29, 2016.
Dassanayake, who was produced in court today, is accused of causing a loss of over Rs. 17.6 million to the government by prematurely withdrawing funds from a fixed deposit belonging to the Uva Provincial Council during his tenure as Chief Minister.
The Commission further revealed that Wickremesinghe made his media statement at the request of Dassanayake’s wife, and that the timing of the circular was not verified before making public remarks.
Investigators alleged that his comments had adversely affected the integrity of the ongoing investigation and requested that Dassanayake’s bail be revoked.
The court will consider the request for bail cancellation later today. (Newswire)