CID grills GL over alleged coup

22 January 2015 01:52 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris had been questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department officers this afternoon over an alleged attempt in the early hours of Friday January 9 to thwart the electoral process and to prevent,   by unlawful means, the transfer of power after the Presidential Election.

“In the overall context of the current strident emphasis on good governance, I expressed deep regret that I was subjected to this harassment without any semblance of justification,” Prof. Peiris said.

Prof. Peiris in a statement further said:

“The basis of the interrogation to which I was subjected, it appeared, was that I was present at Temple Trees early in the morning of 9th January. One would be hard put to discover anything sinister in this perfectly natural circumstance; I considered it only right and proper for me to be with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whom I had loyally served for seven years as a senior member of his Cabinet, at a time when support and solidarity were called for. According to my scale of values, this is a basic human obligation.

“I explained to the Police officers who had been sent to interrogate me that, far from any seditious or criminal conspiracy being hatched, no sooner than I entered the former President’s office about 3.30 a.m., I found President   Rajapaksa emphatically expressing to all present his wish to hand over power to his duly elected successor even before the formal announcement of the result.

“He specifically instructed his Secretary, in my presence, to facilitate the taking of the Oath of Office by President-Elect Maithripala Sirisena at any time and venue chosen by the new President.

“I also told the officers of the CID that the former President attached particular importance to ensuring that no untoward incidents should be allowed to mar the handing over of power and, to that end, he directed, within my hearing, that the then Leader of the Opposition,   Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, should be consulted immediately with regard to practical arrangements conducive to a smooth transition. Mr. Wickremesinghe was contacted by telephone and in fact arrived at Temple Trees a short while later for a discussion with President Rajapaksa.

“I made it clear that not one word was uttered in my presence by anyone about a coup d’etat or any other criminal initiative.

“I told my interlocutors that the decision to question me would have been justified   only if a statement had been made by anyone present in the room implicating me in any manner or, at the very least, suggesting that a criminal conspiracy against the State had been discussed or referred to in my presence. I asserted my conviction that this could not possibly have happened, because all the persons present at the time are men of integrity, and it is inconceivable that any of them would have made a palpably false and malicious   statement.

“I commented on the strange irony inherent in   the situation. As the country’s former Minister of External Affairs and, even more so, as a Professor of Law who had guided the footsteps of thousands of students in universities in my own country and abroad (Including   the present Prime Minister), introducing them to seminal constitutional values and the received legal culture underpinning them, I am hardly a probable participant in an alleged criminal conspiracy directed against the State.

“In the overall context of the current strident emphasis on good governance, I expressed deep regret that I was subjected to this harassment without any semblance of justification,” he said.

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Comments - 18

Philip Thursday, 22 January 2015 07:58 PM

G L is a disgrace to the legal community, he is another person that could do anything for his personal benefit. He has no values whatsoever , his conduct in the past speaks for itself.

don Thursday, 22 January 2015 08:10 PM

Is this the 100 day plan. What a joke. The biggest job now is to find fault with the previous govt. This is ridiculous

Dom Thursday, 22 January 2015 08:19 PM

In the name of God, Arrest them all! they hurt Sarath Fonseka and others who has been victimised under Rajapaksa regime.I demand no more investigation just put them in jail and do the investigation!!!!!

Mason Thursday, 22 January 2015 08:22 PM

Your presence at the unholy hour is in itself is suspect. Nobody expects you to come clean, not immediately any how.You state that not one word was uttered IN YOUR PRESENCE about a coup. This appears that you are OVER EMPHASIZING wanting the CID to believe what you say.

sri Thursday, 22 January 2015 08:23 PM

it does make sense !

Mervyn Silva Thursday, 22 January 2015 08:24 PM

To protect his position GLP is prepared to tell tons of lies. Loyal nanny are wanted for immediate hire.

Waco Saturday, 24 January 2015 08:25 AM

General Sarath Fonseka has no intention of taking revenge from any one. He is a strong Buddhist and has the " Let Go " atitude.

tomsam Saturday, 24 January 2015 09:01 AM

First remove the hair dye that is obscuring your ability to think and act rationally.You are an old tool sucker and a disgrace to profession and age.

gamarala Friday, 23 January 2015 05:06 PM

i totally agree with your comment

Prasad Friday, 23 January 2015 01:28 PM

This is pathetic . Such malicious actions have already damaged reputation of our country.

weera Friday, 23 January 2015 01:48 PM

Hurry up and find the people who were responsible for the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunge and white van kidnappers instead of going after the King for now.

Punyasoma Gunadasa Friday, 23 January 2015 10:56 AM

Which God are you talking of ? Your grandfather ?

Banda Friday, 23 January 2015 10:57 AM

GL is one of the best politicians in the country do. Not comment rubbish about this fabricated lie this only mud slinging . Table will turn soon I also voted for MS

sameall Friday, 23 January 2015 02:01 PM

"God had planned you people to be treated as SF" mekada yaha palanaya?or my3 yugaya??

Mm Thursday, 22 January 2015 07:31 PM

Police and cid is acting like children in a candy store!

Lanka Shantha Thursday, 22 January 2015 07:38 PM

Come on Mr. GLP, at least you can speak the truth now and become as a crown witness, you are safe. Other wise God had planned you people to be treated as SF. (Remember what you people did for him?)

sameall Friday, 23 January 2015 02:06 PM

this is just like in 2002,just read thishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_City_incident

lakshmanu Friday, 23 January 2015 02:07 PM

Dear Don,This is not a joke but very serious! Where due, we have to bring errant people justice!

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CID grills GL over alleged coup

Comments - 18

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