Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne said that since cases are already pending against a majority of opposition politicians in several courts, incidents such as suicides may be reported in the political arena in the future as well.
The Deputy Minister made this statement while addressing the media after a program held in Bingiriya.
He made this comment in response to a question raised by journalists regarding the suicide of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne.
He said that several former politicians have already been sentenced to prison, with Mahindananda Aluthgamage serving a 20-year sentence, former Trade Minister 25 years and Sarana Gunawardena serving a 16-year sentence.
In addition, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said that almost every member of the Rajapaksa family has a pending case, and that many more people will have to go to prison in the future, and that such suicides may occur before that.
Speaking further, he said:
“There have been several suicides in recent days. A person who committed suicide previously had revealed information to the courts and the Bribery Commission through letters written in his own handwriting, about how bribes were paid to Mahinda Rajapaksa on several occasions at the Carlton House and to former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne in connection with the Airbus deal.
Now a former IGP has also committed suicide. I don’t know how many more people will have to make such decisions in the future.”