Colombo (News 1st) – The Island reported on Thursday (Dec 6) regarding a statement UNP MP Wajira Abeyawardena had made in response to a statement by the President who charged that within 50 days of the formation of the government someone had robbed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and that the allegations were investigated by a special and impartial Presidential Commission.

UNP MP Vajira Abeyawardena had stated that according to the special and impartial Presidential Commission report Ranil Wickremasinghe and members of United National Party have been cleared off the allegations of corruption and that the real culprits have been identified.

However, the credibility of this statement is up for question given the track record of the individual making the claim.

MP Vajira’s credibility is thrown into doubt when the public recalls these incidents;

1. Protecting Damayanthi Jayaratne who was a former Secretary at the Ministry of Defence who had allegations with regard to the Avant-Garde Case. Her whereabouts are still unknown.
2. Protecting Anusha Palpita who had several allegations against him during the former government.
3. Sending a letter to an advisor of the Prime Minister requesting payments be made to a contractor who was close to him for constructions carried out during the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
   Vajira Abeywardhena who was a minister at the time denied that he sent such a letter at first but later accepted that he did.

Can the public accept statements made by tainted individuals?