CID takes over probe on attack on PM’s residence as political uncertainty continues

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has taken over investigations into the arson attack on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence after the arrest of three suspects over the incident. 

The investigations came as protesters occupying the President’s House and office and the Temple Trees vowed to occupy the premises until the resignation of the President.

Police investigating the attack on Premier Wickremesinghe’s residence at Fifth Lane, Kollupitiya said the three persons arrested were from Mt Lavinia, Ja-Ela and Galle  while more persons have been identified to be arrested.

According to eyewitnesses soon before the attack on the premier’s residence took place a group who arrived at the scene had ordered journalists and others not to capture video footage and then proceeded to scale the wall and set fire to the house.  Simultaneously the power also failed in the area.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has launched a separate inquiry to ascertain the reasons for the failure of power at the particular time. 

Meanwhile more cabinet ministers have started to tender their resignations as political uncertainty continued after President  Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe offered to step down from office.

Minister of Investment Promotion, Dhammika Perera was the latest to resign just 16 days in the job.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said he would resign later in the day after accepting a fertilizer shipment due in the country. “I have done my duty and leaving”, he told the media on Sunday.

Already Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando have resigned, with more to follow.

Hundreds of protesters were continuing to occupy the President’s official residence and his office and the Prime Minister’s office  which they stormed on Saturday calling for the resignations of the President and the Prime Minister. More have been visiting the President’s House on Sunday.

Though President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed the Speaker in Parliament that he would be stepping down on July 13 protesters say they will occupy the President’s House until the resignation of the President takes place.