Penalise those who robbed public property if you are not Ranil Rajapaksa: Sajith

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The President should penalise those who have robbed public assets if he is not Ranil Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.   

Mr. Premadasa who was speaking during the debate on the Central Bank Amendment Bill referred to the remark made by the President on Wednesday that he is Ranil Wickremesinghe not Ranil Rajapaksa and said the latter should penalise all those who have robbed public property.   

“We heard the President saying he was not Ranil Rajapaksa but Ranil Wickremesinghe. If so, he should penalise all those who have robbed public property and confiscate their assets,” Mr. Premadasa said.    Referring to the Central Bank Amendment Bill, Mr. Premadasa said there should be provisions to prevent the Central Bank officials from being summoned to select committees and privilege committee in Parliament. “The latest tactic of the government is that of bringing in legislations to make institutions independent and then appointing select committees to probe them or bring them before the privilege committee of the House,” he said.