President Maithripala Sirisena accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of being involved in a murder incident in Hambantota some 20 years ago, a Deputy Minister claimed.
Deputy Minister of Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development Ranjan Ramanayake said that President Sirisena had personally told him that Rajapaksa was a suspect over the murder incident.
“President Sirisena was a witness to that incident,” Ramanayake claimed.
Ramanayake said that this was one of the reasons why the President did not want Rajapaksa to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
“He was in jail but was later freed with the assistance of UNP member John Amaratunga,” Ramanayake told a local radio station today.
Ramanayake said that anyone who has doubts over what he is saying can directly ask President Sirisena if the story is true.
“I asked the President if I can reveal this to the media and he said yes,” Ramanayake added.
According to Ramanayake the President has said that everyone in Hambantota and even senior UNP members are aware of the allegation against Rajapaksa.
Ramanayake said that if the families of the victims come forward the case against Rajapaksa can be brought back into the open.
He also noted that the new Government has launched investigations into several cases which had been closed by the former Government and if required even the case against Rajapaksa will be investigated. (Colombo Gazette)