Sunil Watagala says the government has acted with conscience, rejecting corruption claims and defending committee decisions on summons.
Sunil Watagala has defended the government, saying it has not acted against its conscience and therefore has the right to say it will be acquitted.
Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala said the current government has not been involved in any form of fraud or corruption.
He said there is a strong belief, based on conscience, regarding the government’s conduct and decisions.
For that reason, he said the government also has the right to say it will be acquitted.
Speaking during a discussion on Independent Television, Watagala emphasised that the government had never engaged in fraud or corruption.
He added that the government would not allow fraud or corruption in the future either.
The Deputy Minister revealed that MPs of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya had submitted a motion requesting that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister Bimal Rathnayake be summoned before the committee.
He said the request had been discussed extensively within the committee.
However, Watagala pointed out that when examining the evidence obtained so far from around four or five witnesses, no information had emerged linking the President or Minister Bimal Rathnayake to the incidents.
Therefore, he said the majority of the committee decided there was no need to summon them unnecessarily.
At the same time, he said the Chairman had also decided that the committee retained the right to summon them in the future if any issue arose concerning them.
Commenting on the functioning of the committee, Watagala said that although there was an agreement to keep its information confidential, there was also a responsibility to inform the public.
He said opposition MPs had been given more opportunities within the committee.
He further stated that it was opposition MPs who asked the most cross-questions from individuals such as Nagahananda Kodivakkku and Udaya Gammanpila.
Watagala said the government would implement the mandate given to it to the letter.
He added that the government was acting without hesitation to enforce the law against corrupt individuals from the past.
The Deputy Minister further stated that by introducing laws relevant to former presidents and current MPs, the government had shown that it was implementing its mandate through action, not merely through words.
