CID Completes Probe, Court Sets Date for AG’s Position in Ranil Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that investigations into the case filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake over an alleged private visit to the United Kingdom using public funds have been concluded and that the relevant investigation extracts have been forwarded to the Attorney General.The case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena.Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today accompanied by his wife, Maithree Wickremesinghe.Several former Members of Parliament and former ministers were also present at court.Senior State Counsel Samadari Piyasena informed court that investigations relating to the incident had been completed and that the relevant extracts had been submitted to the Attorney General. She requested a date to inform court of the Attorney General’s position on the matter.At that stage, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne, appearing on behalf of Ranil Wickremesinghe, stated that investigators had claimed that nearly half of the total expenditure forming the basis of the case had been incurred on vehicles.However, the President’s Counsel maintained that the vehicles used during the visit had been provided by the British Government. He further stated that he would hand over, in open court, a document detailing the arrangements made by the British Government in relation to the provision of those vehicles and requested that an investigation be conducted into the matter.After considering the submissions, Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena fixed September 30 for the next hearing and directed the State Counsel to inform court of the Attorney General’s position on that date.The case was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his former secretary, Saman Ekanayake, over allegations that Rs. 16.6 million in public funds had been utilized for a private visit to the United Kingdom.