Ranil raises question on CIABOC Director General’s conduct

By Yohan Perera   

Raising concerns about the alleged misleading submissions  made against him in Court yesterday by the Commission to Investigate  Allegations on Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Former President Ranil  Wickremesinghe called for an explanation from the Chairman of CIABOC  with regard to the conduct of commission’s Director General whom he said  has made allegations without any basis.   

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the following in his letter addressed to CIABOC Chairman.   

On the April 10, 2025, I was consulted by the spouse of MP  Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, which was after a telephone call by  the MP inquiring whether his privileges had been violated by the  statement by Minister Samantha Vidyaratne. Right after the next day  itself on April 11, 2025, I received a letter signed by Deputy Director  General CIABOC Asitha Anthoney, directing me to provide a statement to  the Corruption Investigation Division of your commission on April 17,  2025. My legal council Ronald Perera PC wrote to Director General Mr.  Ranga Dissanayake notifying that we are unable to appear before the  commission on the set date as we were both out of Colombo.   

On April 21, 2025, the Commission to Investigate  Allegations of Bribery or Corruption again requested me to appear before  the commission on 25.04.2025. In that letter, it was mentioned that  further investigation was being conducted as to whether the reason  provided by me for my inability to appear before the Commission is a  reasonable cause in terms of Section 126 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9  of 2023.  

On 22nd April 2025, Mr. Reshan Gamage, Attorney-at-law,  informed the Commission that my Legal Counsel Mr. Ronald Perera is out  of the country till 27th April 2025, and requested another date to  appear before the Commission to provide a statement. The letter dated  25th April 2025, sent by the Commission in response, also mentioned that I  have made a statement to the media, interfering unnecessarily regarding  a suspect arrested and produced before the Court by the Commission to  Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.  

I also wish to bring to the notice of the Commission that  the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stated in a public political  rally held in Batticaloa on 11 April 2025 that he has seen the letters  sent by me to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or  Corruption.  

Therefore, I wish to request an explanation as to the  conduct of the Director General of the CIABOC in sending these letters  to me alleging violation of laws by me without any basis and the sharing  of letters sent by my counsel with the President. My lawyers will be in  contact with your esteemed Commission for this purpose.