Colombo, January 29 (Daily Mirror): The Sri Lankan Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) had recommended stripping former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his Civic Rights for life, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said at an election rally in Deniyaya on Monday.
He said that those who suggested the SLFP and Joint Opposition should unite, should consider the recommendations made by PRECIFAC.
“They should consider whether the two parties could get together in a situation, where the Commission had called for the stripping of Mr Rajapaksa’s Civic Rights,” Wickremesinghe said.
He said that he had requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to convene Parliament on February 8, 2018, to take up the debate on Bond Commission report and the PRECIFAC Report.
“There is no issue in having a debate on the Bond Commission report as there is nothing new about it. We have had several debates on the issue,” he said.
Mr Wickremesinghe reiterated that the ruling party should be given the mandate to run local bodies to avoid political turmoil that may occur if local bodies headed by other parties sabotage development work.
Minister of Law and order Sagala Ratnayake said the Minister of Justice would submit a paper pertaining to the setting up of Special Courts to hear corruption cases in a few days time.
Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said it would not be possible to change the President or the Prime Minister after the Local Government election as it was only a poll held to elect representatives for local bodies.
Meanwhile the Election Commissioner has pointed out that if the debate on the report of the commissions is held in parliament on February 8, the local bodies’ election will have to be postponed as all propaganda work will have to stop on February 7, two days before polling which is fixed for February 10.
Experts said that either the demand should be held earlier or it should be held after February 10.
President Maithripala Sirisena who also wanted a debate on the reports of the commissions before the local bodies elections has called for a meeting of all parties in parliament on Tuesday, where a decision will be taken on when the debate should be held.
(The featured image at the top shows former President Mahinda Rajapaka)
