Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will carry out a disciplinary inquiry into the SJB organiser for Horana electorate, Charith Abeysinghe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) this morning.

Premadasa made these remarks while responding to a question raised in Parliament by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara regarding the matter.

“We will definitely conduct a disciplinary inquiry and take the strongest possible action. There is absolutely no place in our party for criminals,” the Opposition Leader declared.

Charith Abeysinghe and Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe were arrested earlier today (25) by the CIABOC over alleged links with the underworld.  

The arrested suspects were accused of soliciting and accepting a bribe from ‘Madhushika Madhuwanthi,’ the wife of organized crime figure Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, alias "Harak Kata," in 2023 while in Dubai.  

According to the allegations, the suspects had demanded Rs. 500 million in exchange for arranging the removal of ‘Harak Kata's’ detention orders, preventing his alleged killing by police, transferring him from the high-security Boossa Prison to another prison and securing his release from investigations and related legal proceedings.

The demanded bribe was later reduced to Rs. 200 million and an advance payment of Rs. 120 million was allegedly requested and received.