• This businessman was conferred with various awards and honorary titles by various ministers

By Ajith Siriwardana  

 While claiming that the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks had not obtained any statement from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) over the nominating of Mohammed Ibrahim from its National List, former JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake yesterday said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa should be questioned first for paying salaries to 21 individuals including Zahran Hashim during his tenure as the President.  

He told a news conference that this businessman was conferred with awards by Mahinda Rajapaksa before he was nominated in the JVP National List in 2015.  

“We would like to remind Minister Sarath Weerasekara, if he was gathering information on Mohammed Ibrahim, a statement should be recorded from the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa for paying salaries to Zahran and others. He admitted that Zahran was paid salaries under his government. This businessman was conferred with awards by Mahinda Rajapaksa. He should be questioned on this as well,” he said.   

Mr. Ratnayake said this businessman was conferred with various awards and honorary titles by various ministers and added that he was even awarded the title of  ‘Justice of peace for All Island.’ 

He said Mohammed Ibrahim was nominated from the JVP National List considering all these reasons. 

• He was even awarded the title of  ‘Justice of peace for All Island’ and Mohammed Ibrahim was nominated from the JVP National List considering all these reasons