- Keith Noyahr case completed, evidence submitted
- Ekneligoda case tied to Rajapaksa clan
- Easter Sunday investigation ongoing, details withheld
- Sirisena likely to face CID over pending investigations
The Government has intensified its investigations into former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena, along with key associates from the previous administrations, amid allegations of large-scale misappropriation of public funds and involvement in criminal acts.
This development comes just days after the arrest, remand, and subsequent release on bail of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe – a case that has drawn significant attention.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala said that all major high-profile cases were under active investigation by the Government’s specialised teams.
“We are now finalising all investigations concerning Keith Noyahr and have presented the evidence to the Chief Magistrate’s Court for the third time, with the report already submitted to the Attorney General,” he said.
“Prageeth Ekneligoda’s case is also being examined, and it is the same group of people associated with the Rajapaksa clan who are under investigation. The evidence that was destroyed cannot be recovered overnight, but we are committed to getting to the bottom of it,” he said.
Wijepala further stated that investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks were ongoing, but that no further information would be released at this time due to the sensitive nature of the case.
“The investigation is sensitive, so there is no necessity to put the information out,” he noted.
On the issue of the Government’s capacity to handle such high-profile investigations, the Minister acknowledged the challenges posed by a shortage of staff within the investigation departments.
“All departments under my ministry are busy handling investigations into major corruption cases, including alleged misappropriations of large sums of Government money. However, there is a slight delay in the progress of some investigations because we are working with limited staff,” he explained.
Addressing concerns over the perceived disparity between investigating ‘small’ and ‘big’ corruption, Wijepala stressed that corruption was corruption, regardless of scale.
“As per the Anti-Corruption Act, a bribe is a crime, whether it involves Rs. 100 or millions. What is wrong is wrong, no matter who commits it,” he said.
“Some people may have stolen large amounts, but it is not reported. In other cases, small amounts are stolen, but there is more public attention. Law enforcement officers will investigate based on complaints and evidence, not on the scale of the crime.”
Commenting on former President Sirisena’s statement that he knew the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks, Wijepala said: “There are other allegations against him as well, and all of those are being examined. Once everything is prepared, he will be called in to give a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).”
The nano-fertiliser case, which has attracted significant public attention, is also under investigation, but the Minister cautioned that the Government needed more time to complete the various investigations. “There are simply too many cases to handle at once. Currently, two-thirds of the CID is in court daily to provide evidence,” he revealed.
On the matter of the files related to the investigations introduced by the National People’s Power (NPP) before it came to power, Wijepala affirmed that the same files were being used for ongoing investigations.
“We are investigating all those cases now and, in time, many more arrests will follow. You can also check the names mentioned by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake when he was in the Opposition,” he said, urging the public to verify the progress of these investigations.
Minister Wijepala made it clear that the Government would not interfere in the operations of the Police.
“We are not here to dictate terms to the Police. Wherever a complaint is received, the Police will investigate it. Sometimes cases are in court and the process takes time, but we are determined to pursue justice,” he stated.
The Minister also addressed concerns regarding the arrest of prominent figures such as former President Wickremesinghe, stating that while some arrests had been politicised, the Government respected the authority of the courts.
“In the case of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the court heard both sides for almost seven hours before announcing its verdict. It is not prudent to question the authority of the courts. It is the duty of the lawyers to present their case and seek bail for their clients. This culture of questioning court decisions must change,” he added.
Wijepala also highlighted the issue of individuals evading accountability by seeking medical treatment in hospitals instead of serving time in prison.
“We will not protect those who act with impunity. If the investigations reveal that a crime has been committed, those responsible should be arrested. The jails are already overcrowded and we don’t need more people there. However, those who deserve to be imprisoned must be held accountable,” he asserted.