65 cases withdrawn during previous governments re-filed: PM

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera 

The government has refiled a total of 65 cases that had been withdrawn between 2019 and 2024 for various reasons, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament yesterday. 

Responding to a question by MP Ajith P. Perera, the Prime Minister said that 102 cases had been withdrawn by the Bribery Commission and the Attorney General between 2019 and 2024. 

She said the National People’s Power (NPP) promised in its election campaign that cases withdrawn during previous governments due to various reasons would be refiled after reviewing them. 

The Prime Minister said a decision has been taken not to re-file 34 cases, while the government is considering re-filing three more cases. 

MP Perera alleged that the government has failed to refile some major cases against powerful politicians, which involved a colossal amount of money. 

“A prominent case against former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was withdrawn due to his immunity as the president. That case has not been refiled. 

The government has failed to refile some serious cases involving powerful politicians,” he said. 

Prime Minister Amarasuriya, who responded, said the government has not been selective in refiling cases and that cases are being heard against some powerful politicians.