Colombo (News 1^st) – Addressing an event in Polonnaruwa today (May 5), President Maithripala Sirisena said the law will be enforced strictly, against anyone who is involved in fraud and corruption irrespective of their status.

President Sirisena was speaking at an event in Polonnaruwa to celebrate the International Day of the Midwife. A new uniform was also unveiled for midwives.

Furthermore, he said the position of President’s Chief of Staff at the Presidential Secretariat is equivalent to a Secretary of a ministry. He stated that people who have held this post for three presidents in this country have gone to jail and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation who was arrested the day before yesterday was the Chief of Staff during Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s term in office as well.

President Sirisena said that just a couple of months ago, the Chief of Staff of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested on charges of bribery and is now out on bail. He added that his chief of staff who got arrested only assumed duties less than a month ago.

He stated that the politicians and state sector employees should never do anything which creates frustration among the people. The head of state futher said that as a minister and even during these three years as President, he has always taken unbiased decisions against bribery, corruption, fraud, theft, wastage, and misuse of public property. The President emphasised that he had taken decisions against the large-scale incidents during this government as well.