COLOMBO: Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was ordered by the magistrate court on Tuesday to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at 9.00 am on the 27th of July.
The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader will be recording a statement on Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019.
According to reports, he had been issued notices on two previous occasions to record a statement with the CID pertaining to its probes on the coordinated bombings, however, the former minister had failed to make an appearance.
Notices were issued to Bathiudeen, ordering him to provide a statement to the CID next Monday (27) after the officers presented submissions to the Fort Magistrate in this regard.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission informed Sri Lanka Police to postpone the recording of statements from Ex-Minister Rishad Bathiudeen with regard to the 2019 April 21st Attacks for the 10th of August.
The NEC had reached this unanimous decision following a request made by Ex-Minister Bathiudeen.The letter has been signed by the Chairman of the NEC, Mahinda Deshpriya, Nalin Abeysekera and S R H Hoole,members of the commission.
Bathiudeen was summoned to the CID on Monday 20th and he did not report according to the letter of the commission.
In a complaint to the National Elections Commission, Ex-Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who is also the leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress noted he is summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department frequently to record statements with regard to the 2019 April 21st Attacks.
Bathiudeen notes, a Parliamentary Committee appointed earlier to probe the 2019 April 21st Attacks had cleared him of having any connection to the events.
In his complaint, Bathiudeen said he is the leader of a political party having almost 30 candidates contesting multiple districts at the August Parliamentary Elections, and summoning him to the CID for investigations is an obstruction towards election campaign activity and a blow to democracy & freedom.
The Ex-Minister said if he visits the CID on any given day, he loses three days dedicated for election campaign activity.
The National Elections Commission taking these claims into account decided to inform Acting IGP C. D. Wickremeratne to postpone the investigations on Rishad Bathiudeen to the 20th of August.
The NEC said Sri Lanka Police abided by similar requests made by the National Elections Commission on previous occasions.