The Government yesterday (29) denied the allegations leveled by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has read a letter sent by Wickremesinghe to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

This was in response to a question raised by journalists during the Cabinet press briefing where Wickremesinghe’s allegations were discussed by Mass Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Dr. Jayatissa explained that after Wickremesinghe was summoned by the CIABOC on 11 April, the latter himself had said on his social media accounts that he was unable to appear before the CIABOC on 11 April and that he was to visit the CIABOC on 17 April instead.

Dr. Jayatissa said that since this is publicly shared information, the President may have gathered that information from social media platforms. He added that this is not information that the CIABOC communicated to the President.

Wickremesinghe was summoned to give a statement in connection with statements he had made concerning an Opposition Parliamentarian who is being charged by the CIABOC.

Wickremesinghe's office responded to Minister Dr. Jayatissa, claiming that what the latter stated at the Cabinet press briefing was false. He added that it was President's Counsel Ronald Perera who had written to the CIABOC requesting that a day after Monday (28) be granted instead of 17 April.