Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) that he will provide a statement to the Commission tomorrow, April 28, regarding the withdrawal of fixed deposits at the National Savings Bank during the tenure of Chamara Sampath Dassanayake as Chief Minister of the Uva Province.
Wickremesinghe was initially scheduled to appear before the Commission on Friday to record his statement. However, he had requested an alternative date, citing the need for more time. In response, the Commission offered him the option of appearing on April 28 or April 30, and Wickremesinghe has since confirmed he will be present on April 28. On April 10, Wickremesinghe defended Dassanayake via a special public statement on the matter, clarifying that the withdrawal of Provincial Council account fixed deposits was carried out in accordance with a Government-issued circular during Chamara Sampath Dassanayake’s tenure as Chief Minister.
He said that the circular, which prohibited the deposit of Provincial Council funds in fixed deposit accounts, was issued by the Treasury Secretary with his knowledge and approval, when Maithripala Sirisena was President. The ongoing investigation on allegations is linked to financial irregularities involving the management of Provincial Council funds during that time.
