Prime minister before PCoI

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at the Presidential Commission to investigate fraud and corruption in the current government. Prime Minister arrived there to provide a statement with regard to the investigations pertaining to storing paddy at the Mattala Airport. The prime minister arrived at the Presidential Commission at 10.30 am this morning. He pointed out, the committee appointed to look into the purchasing of paddy of the 2015 Yala season proposed that the paddy be stored at the Mattala airport complex. The prime minister said such decision was taken due to higher production of paddy and to main price stability for paddy. The committee appointed to look into the purchasing of paddy included Adviser to Prime Minister Charitha Ratwatte and Paskeralingam while the commission questioned the prime minister about their appointments. The prime minister said he was not involved in their appointments to the committee. Chairman of the Presidential Commission, Justice Upali Abeyratne questioned the prime minister, whether storing paddy in an international airport, will no tarnish its reputation. To which the prime minister replied, the Mattala Airport did not have an international reputation to be tarnished and it was named the worlds' emptiest airport. The prime minister added, his government is currently in the process of developing the Mattala Airport, and is currently holding discussions with the government of India. The chairman of the commission questioned the prime minister, whether decisions such as storing paddy in an airport will help to establish a reputation for the airport. The prime minister replied the commission was appointed to look into the corruption and such matters can be discussed in parliament. The chairman of the commission questioned whether storing paddy at the airport was a misuse of state assets, to which the prime minister said state assets were not misused. The presidential commission pointed out, in 2014 more than 2900 air crafts landed at the Mattala airport. The prime minister said that was due to state intervention. The prime minister who testified at the commission for more than one hour left at around 11.45 am.