Govt. says won’t influence investigations

 State Minister of Power Mahindananda Aluthgamage 

• Claims alleged records indicate political witch-hunt by Yahapalanaya Government
• Invites politically victimised persons to come forth
• President reminds Police arrests should be carried out only when absolutely necessary and according to law

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Government yesterday assured the public that they will not influence ongoing investigations into alleged acts of political victimisation by the previous regime.

State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the Government would give room for the Police to conduct investigations without any interference on alleged acts of political victimisation. “We will not act like the previous Government,” he said. 

“The alleged telephone conversations between former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director SSP Shani Abeysekara, Judges and MP Ranjan Ramanayake raise concerns over investigations carried out by the previous administration. However, those will be investigated by the Police, therefore the Government will not interfere with those investigations,” Aluthgamage said.

Recordings of conversations that had allegedly taken place between Ramanayake and several law enforcement agency members, including Judges, indicate that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs were subjected to political victimisation, Aluthgamage opined.“Considering the alleged telephone conversations, we cannot think this was an act of an individual. There may be more powerful people involved to carry out such a political witch-hunt. I hope the police will investigate those who were behind these acts and take necessary actions.»He claimed that a recording of a conversation that had allegedly taken place indicated that there was an alleged attempt to assassinate him. According to Aluthgamage, the alleged plot to assassinate him was a result of his constant criticism of the Yahapalanaya Government over its illegal activities.

He also pointed out that a three-member Commission to inquire into and obtain information of the alleged political victimisation during the previous administration, which was gazetted by the President, was an attempt to keep politics out of investigations.

“Those who were subjected to political victimisation can lodge their complaints. The Commission will conduct an independent inquiry, and recommend appropriate actions to be take on such cases,” he added.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday instructed Acting Inspector General of Police Senior DIG C. D. Wickramaratne that arrests should be carried out only when absolutely necessary. The President pointed out that a decision to arrest an individual should be taken with utmost care and in strict compliance with the law. 

- Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera