– In the wake of the latest arrests of MP Namal Rajapaksa and former Minister Johnston Fernando by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala said that the Government’s position was that accountability for past wrongdoing should apply equally to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

He rejected allegations that the Government was engaged in a political witch-hunt through investigations and arrests of politicians linked to alleged wrongdoing in the past.Watagala said the Government had made it clear that investigations into past wrongdoing would be conducted equally and without political interference.“The arrests were made based on investigations. So, it’s not targeted at anyone in particular,” Watagala said.Responding to claims that recent arrests, including that of Rajapaksa, amounted to political victimization, the Deputy Minister said such allegations represented the Opposition’s view of the ongoing investigations. He said the ongoing investigations and judicial process were being carried out independently, adding that criticism of the process should not be taken as evidence of political interference.

“We have not arrested anyone without a basis. We follow a procedure when making arrests,” he said.