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Sri Lanka police may question former president over coup

Xinhua, February 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Sri Lankan police on Thursday said they are awaiting advice from the country's Attorney General to question former President Mahinda Rajapakse and former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse over an alleged coup attempt following last month's presidential elections.

Police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana told Xinhua that files related to the investigations conducted so far have been sent to the Attorney General' office and they are awaiting advice on the next course of action.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had filed a police complaint last month alleging that the former president and the former defense secretary were among those involved in the coup attempt a day after the Jan. 8 elections which was eventually won by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Sri Lanka's former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris was also accused in the coup attempt and the police had recorded a statement from him but are yet to record statements from the two Rajapakse brothers.

According to local media reports, the police have also recorded statements from the country's Army Commander Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera and Police Chief IGP N.K. Illangakoon over the alleged coup attempt.

In addition to them, the police have also questioned several key political figures including the country's former foreign minister.

The newly elected government led by Maithripala Sirisena had soon after the presidential elections assured that a full probe would be launched into the alleged coup attempt by the previous regime but have received criticism by minor political parties over the slow pace of investigations.

The political parties have claimed that delaying the investigations would allow conspirators to plan their statements in a manner they would not contradict each other and the investigators would therefore not be able to obtain the truths. Endi