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Ranil’s case: AG’s Dept divided on Wolverhampton University’s response
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
Two opinions have emerged within the Attorney General’s Department regarding the University of Wolverhampton’s response to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in relation to its probe into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Britain in 2023.
The difference of opinion has resulted in a delay in the completion of the probe into the allegation that Mr Wickremesinghe misused more than Rs 16.6 million in state funds to attend the Wolverhampton University’s graduation ceremony where his wife, Maithree Wickramasinghe, was conferred an honorary professorship.
The Sunday Times revealed last week that the University of Wolverhampton, in its email response to the CID, said it had invited former President Wickremesinghe to attend the graduation ceremony.
One group within the AG’s Department supports the view taken by the CID that the university’s response cannot be accepted, while another group is of the view that it can be accepted.
The CID has submitted the university’s response to Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who is leading the prosecution in the case.
A decision on the next step is to be taken after the AG’s Department studies further the response given by the university, the Sunday Times learns.
The developments have delayed the completion of the investigation and the filing or dropping of charges in court.
Meanwhile, the Government Analyst’s reports on the former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake’s handwriting samples are yet to be submitted to the AG.
ASG Peiris is understood to have instructed the CID to expedite the obtaining of these reports and to also record a statement from Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe.
The case is to be taken up again before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on April 28.
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