Former President and current New Democratic Front (NDF) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has raised serious concerns over the transparency of an investigation led by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), following his appearance before the body on Monday. In a detailed media briefing, Wickremesinghe defended his actions and sharply criticised what he described as procedural irregularities and leaks that undermined due process.
The appearance stems from remarks he made on 10 April regarding the ongoing CIABOC probe into former Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who is currently in remand custody over corruption allegations. Wickremesinghe said he had notified the Commission about his unavailability on previously scheduled dates and reiterated that his legal counsel was also overseas at the time. Nevertheless, he received multiple notices to appear on 25 April. He eventually requested to appear on 29 April and did so.
Wickremesinghe expressed frustration over how the matter was handled, pointing out that details of his summons had been leaked to the media prior to his appearance. He claimed this breach of confidentiality was politically charged, citing comments made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a public rally on 11 April in Batticaloa, where the President referenced Wickremesinghe’s summons. “How can CIABOC matters be shared with the President?” he asked, adding: “I don’t know if this is ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ or something else Sri Lanka.”
Reinforcing the need for legal representation, Wickremesinghe explained that he had insisted on the presence of his lawyer due to concerns over fairness and impartiality. “I don’t know if I will be served justice,” he said, drawing a comparison with inquiries previously conducted by the CID.
Addressing the substance of the inquiry, Wickremesinghe argued that depositing Government funds without appropriate legal authorisation is unlawful, while withdrawing them for their intended purpose is not a crime. According to him, such deposits disrupt economic activity by removing money from circulation that could otherwise stimulate growth. He warned that locking up funds forces the Government to borrow unnecessarily, affecting timely expenditures such as public sector salaries.
Wickremesinghe also highlighted the broader issue of financial governance, referencing practices that began in 2002 to deposit state funds into commercial banks for better returns. He noted that while People’s Bank and Bank of Ceylon qualify as commercial institutions, the National Savings Bank does not.
In defending his previous statements, Wickremesinghe rejected suggestions that he acted improperly by questioning the deposit of public funds. He stated that the real violation lay in unauthorised deposits rather than their lawful use. He also criticised certain circulars issued over the years that lacked legal grounding, specifically pointing to examples from 2008 and 2016.
He cited the 2023 Public Finance Management Bill as a legislative step meant to plug regulatory gaps and improve financial transparency. Without proper legal safeguards, Wickremesinghe argued, public funds are at risk of being misused.
As the briefing concluded, Wickremesinghe expressed concern that his testimony could again be leaked or misrepresented. “I don’t know to whom they are showing my statement now,” he remarked.
The context for Wickremesinghe’s involvement lies in his public defence of Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, claiming that the former Chief Minister had acted under a circular issued during Wickremesinghe’s tenure as Prime Minister. He questioned whether Dassanayake’s arrest was politically motivated, especially following the MP’s recent criticisms of the Government in Parliament.
Dassanayake was arrested on 27 March in connection with three corruption cases. He is accused of misappropriating Rs. 1 million from the Uva Provincial Council in 2016. CIABOC alleges that he solicited funds from three State banks under the pretense of procuring school supplies for preschool children. While two banks disbursed Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million respectively to his foundation, a third bank’s refusal allegedly led Dassanayake to withdraw Government deposits from the institution, reportedly causing a Rs. 17.3 million loss to the State.