Statement recorded by Financial Crimes Division

Statement recorded by Financial Crimes Division ....

from Shiranthi by bringing police to Speaker's House ....

The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division

has launched an inquiry about former President's wife having opened up an account by the name of Siriliya Sawiya some time ago at the People's Bank and is alleged to have included false data in the process.

After the police had summoned her to come some time back to give a statement in that connection and Namal Rajapaksa including Mahinda supporters had expressed their unpleasantness and had inferred that it was a political revenge. In the process the media personnel had been awaiting her appearance at the doorstep of the Police Financial Crimes Division from this morning thinking that she would present herself there; however even without the media being notified she had given her statement at a different location, going through the back door. She had in fact made her statement at Mahinda's brother's, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa's official residence, avoiding the 'loss of dignity' of going to the Financial Crimes Division. How she had got this privilege of getting the opportunity of making her statement has still not been revealed. Prior to this when Mahinda Rajapaksa was called to the Bribery Commission, that 'loss of dignity' was covered up by MPs protesting against it and upto now Mahinda has not given that statement even by getting them down to his home. Subsequently there were protests from supporters against Gotabhaya Rajapaksa giving a statement to the Bribery Commission.

Mrs. Shiranthi had gone to give a statement on the allegation that suspicion has arisen regarding a transaction of crediting millions of rupees to several branches of banks in the case of an account maintained at the Suduwella Branch, Maradana of the People's Bank under the name Sirilia Sawiya. The media and others had awaited her at the Financial Crimes Division anticipating her arrival; but since she had gone to the official House of the Speaker, they had turned back and gone.