A case can be filed against former President Mahinda Rajapakse as he had admitted that he instructed Lalith Weerathunga to launch the ‘Sil clothes’ distribution campaign, said Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne.

He made this statement at the press briefing held today (13) to announce the cabinet decisions.

“Rajapaksa should have admitted this truth earlier. He did not have the guts to admit that it is under his directions the ‘Sil’ cloths campaign was launched. Now he makes statements while on his way back from Welikada prison trying to create a media bubble by appearing as a hero,” he said.

 “The ‘Sil’ cloths case was heard at courts for 24 days. He should have appeared at the courts on one of those days and should have made this statement,” Senaratne said.

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara was also questioned by the media as to whether he had any link with the Sil clothes campaign as it was launched in Kurunegala; his electorate division.

“I did not distribute a single Sil cloth from my hands,” the Sports Minister responded. 

Former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge and former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission(TRC) Director General Anusha Palpits were found guilty of misappropriating Rs. 600 million of funds belonging to TRC over Controversial Sil clothes  distribution case and they were sentenced to three-year-rigorous imprisonment by Colombo High Court on September 7.