By Shamindra Ferdinando
Police headquarters is seeking the advice of Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera as regards its investigation into an alleged attempt by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the then Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to deploy the army to suspend the results of Jan. 8 presidential poll being released.
Well informed sources told The Island that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had recorded the statements of Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera and IGP N.K. Illangakoon. In addition to them, the CID also questioned the then External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila and AG Wanasundera.
Depending on the instructions from the AG, the police would question others, including former Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, sources said. Responding to a query, sources said that the CID had sought the AG’s advice after having brought the current status of the investigation to his attention.
The National Executive Council (NEC) headed by President Maithripala Sirisena has discussed the alleged attempt made in the early hours of Jan. 9.
The CID launched an investigation following a complaint lodged by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The JVP, too, has demanded a comprehensive investigation into coup allegations.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to France Karunaratne Hangawatte recently declared that he, too, had been present at Temple Trees in the early hours of Jan.9, and, therefore, he could vouch that nothing untoward had happened. Addressing a group of Sri Lankans at an event to mark Sri Lanka’s 67th Independence Day, Hangawatte said that the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa had declared his intention to transfer power to Maithripala Sirisena around 1.30 am on Jan. 09.
Thereafter, the President had directed that the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe be invited to Temple Trees to discuss the handing over of power. Hangawatte said that Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe had held talks in a separate room and subsequently the then Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga had walked out of that room and declared that the power had been transferred smoothly.
Lalith Weeratunga yesterday confirmed Hangawatte’s statement. Both Weeratunga and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the police had not sought to record their statements.
Hangawatte, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) succeeded Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to France. He is simultaneously accredited to Spain and Portugal and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO.
Hangawatte served on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) before receiving the diplomatic posting.
Having accepted the then President’s invitation, Wickremesinghe had arrived at Temple Trees in the early hours of the day, a senior aide to Rajapaksa told The Island. The official quoted Wickremesinghe as having told Rajapaksa immediately after they met: “We have to protect you for what you have done for this country.” Wickremesinghe had also expressed a similar sentiment as regards Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who was present at Temple Trees.
Recollecting that President Rajapaksa had called Maithripala Sirisena on UNP leader’s hand phone and congratulated him, the official said the police could verify the time of the Temple Trees invitation to Wickremesinghe. That particular call had been made through the switchboard, the official said, emphasising that Rajapaksa had not even contemplated waiting for the release of full results before leaving Temple Trees.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday confirmed that he had had an opportunity to explain to President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene that the military hadn’t intervened in the electoral process under any circumstance, when he paid courtesy calls on them.
Courtesy:The Island