I’m waiting to be summoned by the CID, says Namal

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organiser, MP Namal Rajapaksa says he is waiting to be summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement regarding his visit to Pillayan.

He said that if he is summoned, he also has several questions to ask, and therefore he is waiting for the official call.

Speaking at a press conference in Kandy, Namal Rajapaksa further stated:

“I want to ask why the officer who went to record a statement from Pillayan did not arrest him, even though he is a wanted suspect. I am waiting to be called so I can ask that question. How was a statement recorded from someone under a warrant without arresting him? I also have questions about why intelligence reports on the Easter attack were not informed to the President or the Security Council and why the file was kept hidden.

The government, unable to fulfill its promises, is placing an unbearable economic burden on the people. The cost of living is rising daily. There is a major public discussion about electricity, fuel, and water bills. Instead of solving these issues, the government is clearly pursuing a political agenda and challenging that no one else will be allowed to govern in this era.

This is not a challenge to us but to the people. If the government is creating jobs, reducing the cost of living, attracting investors, and protecting Buddhism and the Buddhist doctrine, then such statements would be justifiable.

But without doing any of that, increasing pressure on the people and claiming it will remain in power is a threat to citizens.

Even today, despite having a trillion rupees in the treasury, the government is burdening the people. During COVID, when the world was shut down, we protected SMEs and farmers, provided free fertiliser for two seasons. Today, due to the Middle East war, farmers are not getting fertiliser at fair prices. Unlike COVID, tourism is not fully shut down now. Factories are not closed. Yet the government is buying fuel at the highest prices in the world.

If the government thinks the economy can be strengthened without foreign investment, that is a joke. The biggest investors who came after it came to power were driven out. Doors have been closed to investors. Only a few politically connected businesspeople are being allowed to profit. This will not develop the country. I urge the government to allow others to invest and create jobs.

I have no cold war with Sajith. We both did politics together in Hambantota for years. We were in different parties. I always won the district. Now he is in Colombo. His father and my father competed, and now it is me and Sajith competing.”