Although the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had attempted to arrest MP Piyal Nishantha for trying to incite communal riots by making false statements, it has been reported that high level political interference had thwarted Nishantha's arrest.
Piyal Nishantha was grilled by the CID after he was summoned yesterday to give a statement on remarks made by him on a live TV programme, ‘Rathu Ira’ on Swarnavahini, on April 26.
Piyal's incendiary comments
Parliamentarian Piyal Nishantha said that 11 soldiers were killed in a clash with terrorists in the Sainthamaruthu area. The MP said that he received credible information in this regard and that he would take full responsibility for his statement.
Maithri and Mangala’s complaints
However, the Army rejected the claim made by Nishantha. It was clear that the false statement had been deliberately carried out with the intention of creating communal clashes. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera too made a written complaint to the CID requesting them to investigate into the false statement made by Nishantha.
Furthermore, President Maithripala Sirisena too had informed the CID to investigate the statement made by the UPFA parliamentarian. It was according to those instructions that Nishantha was summoned to the CID yesterday (06).
Mahinda’s frequent calls to Sirisena
Although the CID had tried to arrest Nishantha based on his statement, Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse had intervened to prevent it.
It is reported that Mahinda Rajapaksa had continuously made phone calls to President Sirisena and the President’s Office and insisted on the release of Piyal Nishantha.
In the end, the CID had released Nishantha but inquiries into his statement had not been concluded.
Ashu Marasinghe summoned to the CID
Meanwhile, parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe is scheduled to be summoned to the CID, today (07).
Marasinghe’s visit to the CID is based on a statement made by MP Piyal Nishantha, yesterday (06), to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Did Ashu pass information to Piyal?
Parliamentarian Piyal Nishantha had revealed that he received information from UNF MP Ashu Marasinghe.
The CID had informed Marasinghe to come to the CID and give a statement in this regard.
Investigation not over!
It was also revealed that the investigation into the statement made by the MP is still ongoing and that the statement to be given by Ashu Marasinghe could be a decisive factor in the investigation. Furthermore, sources said that the CID is due to record statements from several other interested parties as well.
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