PCoI tells Dissanayake to consider Ranil as an example

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) today (Sept 20) advised former minister Duminda Dissanayake to consider Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's testimony as an example to provide answers in a composed manner.

The PCoI which is probing state sector corruption had pointed out that considering such individuals as an example could help young politicians to move forward in their political career.

Mr Dissanayake had been summoned before the Commission as he had served as the Agriculture Minister when his ministry, upon cabinet approval, had rented a building for its activities at a monthly fee of Rs 21.5 million.

The Agriculture Ministry had purchased the building after the cabinet passed a proposal of the Prime Minister to hand over the ministry’s building for Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committees.

Accordingly, the former minister told investigators today that the entire cabinet should be blamed for this situation since the building had been purchased with their approval.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe too appeared before the PCoI this week.