NYT article handed to CID: PM

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

The New York Times article detailing alleged financial misappropriation by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

“Based on a complaint Minister Ranjan Ramanayake lodged with police, the investigations are assigned to the CID. Based on the findings of this investigation, action will be taken,” assured the Prime Minister. Highlighting allegations that the former President and his supporters harassed two local media persons who contributed to the New York Times article, the Prime Minister said: “However, the Editor of the New York Times has stated that the local media people are threatened. This is wrong. Ekneligoda and Lasantha Wickrematunge were killed. Both Keith Noire and Upali Tennakoon were attacked. This bad habit of attacking and killing media leads to calls for more attacks and killing while seated in the Opposition. These threats should be withdrawn if you are talking about democracy. I trust media will take up this matter,” he added.