Rajitha Senaratne's residence searched

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Former Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratna's residence in Colombo was subjected to a special search this afternoon. Police Special Task Force and Criminal Investigation Department officials left the minister's residence in Colombo following the completion of the search. Views were expressed in the political sphere with regard to the issue of a warrant to arrest Dr Rajitha Senaratna and the failure to arrest him. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, General Secretary of the UNP stated that one of their conveners had been approached by two individuals regarding the white van issue and consequently it was brought to attention by the former minister Rajitha Senaratne as a dutiful person. UNP MP Ajith P.Perera: "If legal action is carried out against all politicians alike against false statements they make in media briefings and political stages, then legal action will have to be taken against almost all politicians in the country. If this is the case legal action should also be carried out against Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Mahinda Rajapaksa who merely glanced at the MCC compact and made statements about it during the run-up to the presidential election." UNP MP Eran Wickramaratne stated that Rajitha Senaratne will go to court again and present facts on why he cannot be arrested and the court will inform that they will look into the matter and make a decision by the 30th. He added that CID will consequently go to another magistrate as the Police and the CID are politically driven. Keheliya Rambukwella, State Minister of Investment Promotions noted that making various statements before the public instead of trying to prove their innocence before an independent judiciary in his view is another media circus. He added that discussing matters related to the Attorney General's Department itself is proof of their weak stance and would like to remind them that the time that they call the shots from Temple Trees. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Power, Energy and Passenger Transport Management. stated that the government does not chase after these politicians and its the law's business. C.B. Ratnayake, State Minister of Railway Services shared that they are thankful for the authorities that nabbed a person who stole a firearm within just 2 hours and they will also find Rajitha Senaratne. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Leader of JVP stated that he is amazed that they could not ascertain the whereabouts of Rajitha Senaratane and they should check the residence of the Prime Minister. He added that if a person like him can evade the law it looks like the government is trying to let the issue go. "Politics is clearly involved if some files at the AG's department are concealed and locked away while other cases are pulled out and investigated at record speed" he added.