Mega corruption: Govt. wants three months to put things in order -Alleged phone tapping : Do " Katey pittu" guys have something to hide? Paranavithana

by Zacki Jabbar-October 8, 2016, 7:30 pm 

Amidst mounting public pressure on the government to prove its allegations that the Rajapaksas had stolen billions of rupees from State coffers, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne warned that those responsible for stifling investigations would not be  able to sweep things under the carpet for too long.

"Give us three months to put things in order", he told a news conference in Colombo on Friday adding that even President Maithripala Sirisena had expressed concern at the lethargy with which inquiries were being carried out, especially with regard to allegations of bribery and corruption running into billions of rupees.

Senaratne said that the issue of investigators giving priority to the small corruption cases, while taking their "own cool time" to probe those who had robbed billions was discussed by the Cabinet recently.

The current state of affairs would not be permitted to continue for too long, the Minister warned. "We will in the interest of the public and justice, ensure that the biggest rogues are dealt with first."

He said that delays, including at the Attorney Generals Department would have to be addressed.

Deputy Media Minister Karunaratne Paranavithana responding to allegations that a judge’s telephone had been tapped recently, asked as to why no police complaint had been made.

The proper authority with which to lodge a criminal complaint was with the police. But the "katey pittu" (pittu in the mouth) guys who were scared to open their mouths when the Rajapaksas were in power were going around making allegations while conveniently avoiding the police station.

"Is it because they have something to hide?" Paranavitana asked.