Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (11) that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been instructed to begin an investigation into former First Lady Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private secretary, Sandra Perera, over alleged financial misappropriation.
He made this disclosure when the case regarding the alleged misuse of Rs. 16.6 million during a stopover visit to London by the former President was taken up before the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Appearing on behalf of the complainant, Additional Solicitor General Peiris further told court that the second suspect, former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, has already given a statement to the CID in connection with the controversial London trip.
According to that statement, Ekanayake said he was informed that the visit was only a transit stopover and that he was not aware of any arrangements related to the former First Lady’s convocation ceremony in Wolverhampton.
Additional Solicitor General Peiris further said that the Attorney General has directed the CID to record statements from all relevant parties and to submit a full report to court after completing the investigations.
The Attorney General’s Department has emailed a detailed questionnaire regarding the former First Lady’s convocation and the former President’s visit to London, but responses have not yet been received.
Meanwhile, the second suspect, former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, has been remanded until 18 February. The Magistrate informed court that the bail application will be considered on that date.
