• Stresses due process followed in Ranawaka arrest

By Chandani Kirinde

The Government yesterday denied there was a witch-hunt against its political opponents and said due process was followed in the arrest of former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

“It was the previous Government that was engaged in a witch-hunt against those in the Opposition. Some were kept locked up in remand prison for months. This Government will not resort to such action,” Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

He said that MP Ranawaka was arrested on the advice of the Attorney General and the Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri was informed of it. “The parents of the young boy who was injured in the accident were living in fear due to political pressure. They were unable to get justice for their son. It was on a complaint they lodged that this action was taken,” Gunawardana added.

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