Zahran was on Govt. payroll: Kiriella

Wednesday, 5 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Leader of the House and Public Enterprise Minister Lakshman Kiriella yesterday told Parliament the Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim was on the Government’s payroll during the Government of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Raising the issue of making payments from State accounts, Minister Kiriella said: “The previous Government paid salaries from State accounts to 30 members of the Thowheed Jamaath.

This includes Zahran Hashim. We will prove this in the Parliament Select Committee. I invite you to come to the Select Committee. It is necessary to conduct investigations on making salary payments.”

However, Opposition Leader Rajapaksa who was on his feet raised concerns about revealing details of matters discussed at a Parliamentary Select Committee openly in Parliament.

“It is wrong to disclose matters discussed at a Select Committee. Ultimately this could lead to another incident like the Millennium City safe house issue. You summoning intelligence officers to the Select Committee will reveal them. You may have to start providing them security. Don’t do this openly,” said MP Rajapaksa. (AH)

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