Prisons Chief Medical Officer to file a report on Rajitha's health

Colombo (News 1st): A report will be presented on the health of former minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne who has been placed under remand custody until the 30th of this month. The Prisons Chief Medical Officer visited Rajitha Senaratne at the Private Hospital in Narahenpita today (December 28), to examine him. The Prisons Department said that a full report on the health of Rajitha Senaratne will be presented by the medical officer. The report will be presented based on the recommendations of the specialist doctors treating the former minister. The decision if Rajitha Senaratne should remain at the hospital in Narehenpita or be transferred to the Prison Hospital will be decided based on the report. Meanwhile, the Prisons Department stated that 4 police officers have been assigned to provide protection to Dr Rajitha Senaratne who is in remand custody. The Department added that a jailor, a sergeant and 2 armed officers have been assigned to provide protection to him. The Prisons Department also said that the Borella Police has also been notified to provide security to Dr Rajitha Senaratne. Parliamentarians and relatives visited Dr Rajitha Senaratne today at the hospital. Speaking to the media UNP MP Harin Fernando noted that this was done to seek revenge. He noted that it cannot be said that he (Rajitha) is faking his illness because the medical report looks into everything. He pointed out that he has undergone heart surgery and when things like this happen, he could fall ill due to the shock, fear and stress caused by it. He went onto note that politicians do these kinds of things when the political camp in power changes, but the government should not make the same mistake that they (UNP) did. He stressed that if someone has done something wrong they should put them behind bars and get it over with, without performing a media circus. He said 6.9 million people in the country have now given them the mandate to build the country, therefore, they should do that, and reduce the prices of onions and give the people a way to feed themselves. He said they (UNP) did this same mistake of going after people. Meanwhile, the Sinhale organization filed a complaint at the Criminal Investigations Department today (December 28). Convener of the Organization expressed the following views:

"Rajitha Senaratne was in hiding for 48 hours. Some people say that the Speaker helped Rajitha Senaratne go into hiding, others say that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga helped him go into hiding. Section 209 of the Penal Code clearly states that it is a serious offence to harbour, conceal, assist or maintain a wanted criminal. These matters would be investigated by these officials and a report on the matter should be submitted to the court. That is what we have asked for through this complaint."