Colombo (News 1st); Ex-Ministers Malik Samarawickrama & Mangala Samaraweera and M. A. Sumanthiran appeared at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe incidents of Political Victimization on Friday (21).

The trio was among the many who were noticed by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry-based on a complaint filed by Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka, the Former Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development.

Ex-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was expected at the PCoI today as too was issued a notice, however, as he was no-show the Presidential Commission of Inquiry decided to issue notice on Wickremesinghe on the 04th and 07th of September.

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera speaking to reporters said those who were noticed to appear at the Presidential Commission on Friday (21) are the victims of political victimization.

” In 2015, we were given the mandate to probe fraud and corruption during the Rajapaksa administration and impose necessary punishment,” said Samaraweera adding the 2019 election result was a message from the masses as the expectations of punishing those responsible corruption did not take place in a proper manner during the Sirisena administration.

Mangala Samaraweera said the former government failed in jailing crooks and it cannot be held accountable with regard to security as it was the Former President Sirisena who held all powers with respect to security.

In addition, Patali Champika Ranawaka Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, R. Sampanthan, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law J. C. Weliamuna and (Dr.) Jayampathy Wickramaratne were also issued notice to appear at the Presidential Commission.

In the complaint, Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka said he was arrested and remanded for providing compensation and gratuity to employees who volunteered to terminate their services when Divi-Neguma was converted into a department and for providing concessions under the “Isurumath” housing program.

Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka claims his arrest was politically motivated.

On Friday (21), Malik Samarawickrama, M. A. Sumanthiran, Mangala Samaraweera, and Former DIG of the Criminal Investigations Department Ravi Vaidyalankara were present at the Presidential Commission and requested for copies of statements and the complaint.

The respondents informed the Presidential Commission they need considerable time to peruse the complaint and requested for a separate date to provide evidence.

The PCoI informed them to make necessary payments and obtained the required copies and warned, they cannot take long to study the material.

The recording of evidence will take place on the 09th and 11th of September.

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