…audio tapes featuring ex-EC Chairman et al handed over to CIABOC

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) have recorded statements from defeated UNP Colombo District candidate Oshala Herath as regards the re-registration of Ape Jathika Peramuna (AJP) as the Samaji Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and SJB National List MP Diana Gamage being a British passport holder, respectively.

One-time office bearer of the AJP, MP Gamage, wife of Senaka de Silva, a former top aide to General Sarath Fonseka is one of the seven SJB National List members. Having secured 54 seats, the SJB received recognition as the main Opposition in Parliament.

The CID and the CIABOC questioned Herath on Monday (28) and Wednesday (30), respectively.

Having obtained the UNP membership on the day he signed nomination papers for the Aug 5, 2020 parliamentary election, Herath contested Colombo district under the Elephant symbol.

The CID and the CIABOC questioned one-time media aide to President Maithripala Sirisena regarding complaints received from him.

Herath told The Island that he furnished photo copies of lawmaker Gamage’s British passport to the CID. The civil society activist said that he sincerely expected the new Election Commission (EC) to inquire into his complaint.

Attorney-at-law Nimal Punchihewa heads the five-member EC established in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The original EC formed in terms of the 17th Amendment consists of three Commissioners.

The police and the CIABOC confirmed the recording of statements from Herath.

Lawmaker Gamage, who switched allegiance to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) during the vote on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, has strongly denied accusations as regards her nationality though she admitted at one time she carried a British passport.

Responding to The Island queries, Herath said that he handed over an entire set of audio recordings featuring former EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, EC member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and particularly interesting conversation involving him, Deshapriya and the then lawmaker Ravi Karunanayake at a church at Rajagiriya as well as other conversations to the CIABOC. In his original complaint to the CIABOC in the run-up to the last parliamentary polls, Herath said that the EC brazenly violated procedures in re-registering AJP as SJB.

Former Colombo District UNP MP attorney-at-law Sujeewa Senasinghe, too, features in a conversation along with Deshapriya and President’s Counsel Farman Cassim.

Herath said that he expected the five-man Parliamentary Council, too, to examine his complaint against the EC. The civil society activist also lambasted those engaged in polls monitoring for remaining silent over major violations though they issued statements on minor matters.