By

Dharisha Bastians

President Maithripala Sirisena’s new Government will launch an immediate investigation into an alleged attempt by the previous administration to stage a coup d’état on election night.

An investigation into the alleged attempt to cling to power illegally would commence soon after the new cabinet is sworn in, a spokesman said.

Sirisena Campaign Spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had attempted to “perverse the process of democracy” while results were still being counted around the country.

“Sri Lanka should be proud that public officials and the military came to the rescue of democracy on election night and refused to take part in this conspiracy,” Samaraweera asserted. The UNP MP said that the transition of power on Friday had been anything but peaceful. “A bloodless transition was only possible because of the courage and integrity of the Elections Commissioner and the IGP,” he explained.

Samaraweera alleged that top officials of the ousted regime had summoned the army chief, the IGP and the Attorney General in order to inquire about the possibility of stopping the count.

The IGP had insisted that he could not be party to a coup, Samaraweera revealed.

“The IGP clearly stated that he did not want to be part of a coup and even the Army Commander Daya Ratnayake – we have found fault with him for his election work for the former President, but he has also stood by the people,” the MP explained. He said the Attorney General had also warned President Rajapaksa that there would be dangerous repercussions if he goes through with his plan.

It was only after he realised public officials and security personnel would not support his plans that Rajapaksa called Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samaraweera charged.

“We have a duty on our part to ensure the truth is revealed to the people about what happened that night. So the first thing is to inquire about it,” he said. Samaraweera said the Government had no hard evidence yet, which was why an investigation was required.

“We need to get a fuller picture of what really took place,” he said. The 2015 presidential election had been one of the most corrupt in the history of the country, the UNP legislator explained, even though polling day had been largely peaceful.

Courtesy:DailyFT