SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne has emphasised the urgent need to bring investigations into high profile cases to a successful conclusion.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Sunday (11) lawmaker Wickremaratne said that those accused of large-scale corruption in Treasury bond scams, construction of expressways, construction of a bungalow at Malwana, as well as Krish deal, should be investigated and if found guilty should be punished. If the cases against them couldn’t be proved, they should be cleared, the one-time State Minister said.

Lawmaker Wickremeratne said that in the run-up to the last general elections, in August, 2020, the SLPP, led by the Rajapaksas repeatedly accused UNP leader Ranil Wckremesinghe over the Treasury bond scams as he served as the Prime Minister at the time the frauds were perpetrated in February 2015 and March 2016.

The Rajapaksas’ main promise was to bring to book, the Central Bank bond thieves, MP Wickremaratne said. The Rajapaksas went around the country alleging the country lost billions of rupees due to the bond scams by a UNP government, the MP said. Therefore, it would be the responsibility of the SLPP government to prosecute those responsible for the bond scams.

The failure on the part of the government to take tangible measures against corruption caused a sharp deterioration of public confidence in the establishment, MP Wickremeratne said. The MP said that the country couldn’t allow the thieves to get away.

Commenting on the anti-Corruption Bill presented to Parliament, MP Wickremaratne pointed out the Supreme Court declared that 24 sections of the Bill were inconsistent with the Constitution. The MP questioned whether the Bill in questions was drafted by the Legal Draftsmen Department or some other party.

The former UNP MP slammed the government over its failure to investigate Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse’s claim that USD 250 mn was paid to a person to suppress investigations to the sinking of X-Press Pearl in our waters in early 2021.