Justice Minister calls for a probe into Solicitor General’s statement

Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorala yesterday said that the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice has asked the Attorney General to conduct a thorough investigation into the statement made by Bribery Commission former Director General Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe.

“She is an officer under the Public Service Commission. The Secretary of our Ministry has requested the Attorney General to conduct a proper investigation into this matter and take necessary action. It should be done by the Attorney General and the Public Service Commission,” the Minister said. 

Responding to a question posed by journalists after laying the foundation stone for a new court complex in Pugoda yesterday, the Minister said if Dilrukshi Dias thinks a government minister is involved, she should definitely reveal who that minister is.

“She must reveal who the minister is if she says a minister has pressured her. I also ask the minister to reveal it. Because we don’t help anyone. We don’t expect such things from a responsible officer. It is her responsibility to reveal the Minister if this is the case. But whether a minister is involved or not, such a responsible officer cannot do so,” the Minister said. A voice recording of a telephone conversation took place between Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe and Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi has been made public through the social media by Senadhipathi.

Wickramasinghe, making a note on her Facebook, said she could not make a statement about the telephone conversation with the Avant Garde Chairman.

The former Director General of the Bribery Commission, who filed charges against Avant Garde Chairman in the floating armoury case, has alleged that her conversation with the accused has been distorted and edited and released to the social media and asked Senadhipathi to disclose the name of the minister.