Ashok Abeysinghe grilled by CID for comments on 2019 April Attacks

Colombo (News 1st); Detectives recorded a statement from Kurunegala District MP Ashok Abeysinghe for a period of 05 hours on Thursday (11) with respect to public comments he made recently.

Parliamentarian Ashok Abeysinghe had made public comments on the perpetrators of the 2019 April 21st Attacks as well as the funding sources for the attacks, said Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana adding detectives grilled the MP on the source for such information. "The MP said he did not have any information about the source," said the Deputy Police Chief adding the MP thereafter had informed the CID of his desire to tender an apology for making the said comments. Sri Lanka Police is in possession of A video clip containing the comments made by the MP as well comments made by others based on the MPs comment, he said adding advice is sought from the Attorney General to proceed on the matter. 06 Members of Parliament had filed a complaint against MP Abeysinghe's comments adding they are baseless and false and requested the CID to conduct an investigation. The CID had requested MP Abeysinghe to appear at the CID to record a statement following investigations, however as he did not appear for two days, the CID issue notice on the MP as per Section 109 (06) of the Criminal Procedure Code. MP Ashok Abeysinghe in his comments to media after providing a statement to the CID said he will not divulge details of his statements to the detectives as it is a matter before the law. Abeysinghe was accompanied by several parliamentarians including the leader of the opposition Sajith Premadasa who said he will always appear for his MPs as the leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya. General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara said rather than questioning those who speak of the 2019 April 21st Attacks, authorities must focus on arresting the masterminds of the attacks as well as those who funded the entire operation.