Sagala: Sirisena interfered with investigators probing military officers

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former President Maithripala Sirisena exerted continuous pressure on investigating officers, especially CID sleuths when they investigated military officers allegedly involved in wrong doings, former Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka yesterday informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

 Ratnayake said that when CID officers made some arrests, the former President had called him and the investigating officers to the Presidential Secretariat and shouted at them.

 “Sirisena found fault with investigating officers for arresting military officers and exerted pressure on them to release the suspects.

It was the main issue why he had resigned as the Law and Order Minister and he had requested former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to give him another portfolio, Ratnayake said.

“I don’t want to discuss these matters here, but since the Commissioners ask questions, I am giving answers.”

 Ratnayaka also said that the National Security Council (NSC) had not operated properly during the former administration and that had adversely affected the national security.