Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been issued summons to appear before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the alleged incidents of political victimization, on the 25th of August.

He was previously issued summons to make an appearance at the PCoI on political victimization on the 21st of August.

However, the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks too had issued summons on the former prime minister to record a statement on the same day.

A spokesperson of the Commission said Wickremesinghe had not informed the panel that he is scheduled to appear before the PCoI on Easter attacks.

Accordingly, the Commission has re-issued summons on Wickremesinghe to make an appearance on the 25th of August.

However, Mangala Samaraweera, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Malik Samarawickrama, who were also issued summons by the PCoI on political victimization, are to appear before the panel on 21st of August as per scheduled.

In the meantime, leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna and Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne are also to make an appearance before the panel.

The PCoI issued summons on them following a complaint filed by the former Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka.