“I Spoke to Army Commander on humanitarian Basis” – Minister Rishad Bathiudeen

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – “I never pressured the Army Commander to release anyone in custody at any point”, said  the Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development and Vocational Training.

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen categorically rebuffed all the allegations leveled against him in parliament yesterday.

Adding further, the Minister Rishad Bathiudeen also vehemently rejected allegations that he had exerted pressure for the release of the suspects.

The Minister Stated as follows….

“An unknown group had come to the house and taken away their son… I inquired from the police on two occasions. The Dehiwala Police said this person’s son was not there. Therefore, they appealed to me to inquire from the Army or the Navy if their son was in their custody. That is why I spoke to Minister Ruwan Wijewardena and he said if the police does not know, to ask the Army Commander if this person was in their custody. However, I only inquired if this person was in the custody of the Army. I never on any occasion requested for him to be released. That is a blatant lie. I only inquired from them as a humanitarian service to the family who came to me wanting to find out about their son…”