Minister Bimal Ratnayake says former President Ranil Wickremesinghe should have been arrested 40 years ago for far more serious allegations against him.
“There are arguments that the accusations behind his recent arrest are trivial; that’s true. However, his government in 1977 unleashed massive post-election violence. Ranil and JR were responsible for that and should have been arrested at that time,” he said.
The minister further stated that Ranil Wickremesinghe should have been held accountable for his role in the Cabinet of Ministers during key incidents in the early 1980s, including the burning of the Jaffna library in 1981 and the July 1983 riots.
“Between 1987 and 1990, more than 60,000 people were killed under his government. He is also facing charges related to the Batalanda torture house, for which investigations are still ongoing through the Attorney General. He should have been arrested for this, but no arrest was made,” the minister added.
He went on to say that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s involvement in the 2015 bond scam was also evident, yet no arrest was made in that case either.
“So a person who should have been brought to justice for far more serious charges over 40 years ago is only being investigated now under our government, where investigating officers can carry out their duties with integrity and without hindrance,” he added. (NewsWire)
