Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also to be summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department over a statement given by the former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon regarding the violent attack on Aragalaya, Sunday Times reports. Meanwhile, former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has been summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with two separate investigations, the Sunday Times further reported.
Mr. Rajapaksa will be questioned over a statement made by former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon regarding the failure to prevent the violent attack on ‘Aragalaya’ protestors at Galle Face Green.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ekanayake has been directed to appear before the CID tomorrow in relation to an inquiry into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to the United Kingdom. The probe concerns allegations of misusing state funds during the visit. A further statement is also expected to be recorded from him.
According to the Sunday Times, Mr. Ekanayake is preparing to submit additional documents to the CID to support his claim that the invitation sent to the former president by the University of Wolverhampton was genuine, rejecting earlier allegations that it had been fabricated. It is understood that two invitations, addressed separately to the former president and first lady, and to the former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, have been located.
The University of Wolverhampton is said to have responded to a query made by the legal team of former President Wickremesinghe, confirming the authenticity of the invitation presented to the CID. These documents are expected to be officially submitted as evidence.
In addition, Mr. Wickremesinghe’s lawyers are reported to have obtained official meeting minutes that detail the event and record the attendance of the former president and first lady. The minutes also note that Mayor Dr. Michael Hardacre acknowledged the presence of the Sri Lankan delegation and expressed gratitude to the University of Wolverhampton for inviting him to the occasion.
