Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake denied claims that he had ever been a member of a political committee, as alleged by politicians.
His response came after former JVP frontliner Nandana Gunathilaka recently claimed on Hiru TV’s Balaya program that Dissanayake had served on the JVP legal committee. Gunathilaka questioned the impartiality of CIABOC, alleging its current director general had prior involvement with the JVP.
“In 2004, I became a magistrate. In 2020, I was appointed a High Court judge. In 2025, I assumed this position. If I had been involved in active politics, I would not have been eligible to serve as a judge,” Dissanayake said. “For 20 years, Nandana Gunathilaka remained silent on this issue.”
He added that Gunathilaka had—and still has—the opportunity to file a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission if he believes someone linked to the JVP politburo served as a judge, which would be inappropriate.
“I have never been a member of such a committee. If this allegation is made, it must be proven,” Dissanayake said. “This is a strange culture where an accusation is made, and the accused is expected to prove their innocence.”
Dissanayake called on both Gunathilaka and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila to lodge a formal complaint with the Constitutional Council rather than addressing the issue through media briefings.
Responding to claims that he was linked to a travel ban imposed on former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Dissanayake said he had no recollection of such an incident and was certain he had taken no such action.
“As the Fort Magistrate, I issued warrants against Arjuna Mahendran, Ravi Karunanayake, and others. However, no such incident as claimed by him took place,” he said.
Dissanayake alleged that the accusations were part of an effort to discredit the Bribery Commission and erode public trust in the institution. (Newswire)