Colombo, Sri Lanka — The political landscape in Sri Lanka is heating up as former President Ranil Wickremesinghe finds himself at the center of controversy following comments made by current Minister and cabinet spokesperson Vijitha Herath. During a recent press conference, Herath asserted that Wickremesinghe, who served as Prime Minister during the time of the infamous Central Bank bond scandal, had evaded legal proceedings due to presidential immunity.
“Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe is not the president anymore. Therefore, there is no immunity. Now we have the power to summon him before the court. Let’s see the steps ahead,” Herath declared, implying that Wickremesinghe may now be held accountable for his actions during his presidency.
In a swift rebuttal, Dhanushka Ramanayake, the former Director General of Media for Wickremesinghe, issued a statement today refuting Herath’s claims as misleading. “The then Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed a Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises to investigate the bond transaction. This inquiry commenced on February 27, 2015,” he detailed. “A Presidential Commission of Inquiry followed, consisting of two current Supreme Court judges and a retired Deputy Auditor General, where many, including Wickremesinghe, provided evidence.”
Ramanayake emphasized that despite some investigations into secondary market transactions, the Central Bank retained 12 billion rupees from the company involved, confirming that no financial loss occurred to the Sri Lankan government. “The commission confirmed that Wickremesinghe had no involvement in the allegations,” he stated.
Further complicating matters, the Honorable Attorney General filed indictments against ten individuals in connection with the bond scandal. Notable names, including Honorable Chamath Morayas, Honorable Damith Thotawatta, and Honorable H. Namal Bandara, were acquitted by a three-member High Court bench.
Ramanayake closed his statement with a warning to Minister Herath, stressing, “As a responsible minister and cabinet spokesman, I kindly inform you that it is inappropriate to make false statements, knowingly or unknowingly.”
The escalating tensions between the current government and Wickremesinghe’s supporters signal a deepening divide in Sri Lankan politics, as questions surrounding accountability and governance continue to dominate the national conversation.
