Trade Minister says he initiated CID probe; hands over documents

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana told the Sunday Times yesterday he gave a fourhour statement on Friday to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team probing allegations made in the media by former Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) official Thushan Gunawardena.

Minister Gunawardana said it was he who requested Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne to probe the allegations and the IGP had assigned the matter to the CID.

The minister said he handed over to the CID necessary documents including newspaper clippings and video clips where Mr Gunawardena was seen making the allegations.

“Four CID teams are already probing Rs. 4 billion fraud committed at Lanka Sathosa during the period of the previous government. It is curious that while these investigations are proceed

ing and suspects are being arrested, such new allegations are being made against us. It could be with the intention of directing the probes elsewhere,” the minister alleged.

He claimed action had already been initiated regarding the garlic scam involving Sathosa officials, with the CID probing the incident. Several officials have been interdicted and one arrest was made. In addition, the Trade Ministry was also conducting an inquiry into the matter, he stressed.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Minister Gunawardena said he had never met Thushan Gunawardena personally as the CAA came under the State Ministry, but he had submitted Cabinet papers concerning the authority. He also vowed to leave politics if it was proved that either he or any member of his family was involved in corruption related to Sathosa or any other authority.

State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, meanwhile, said neither he nor Minister Gunawardana ever interfered with the affairs of the CAA.