PM lied to Parliament, RTI reveales

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has provided inaccurate information to Parliament regarding the letter sent by Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neel Hapuhinna that instructed all the District Secretaries and Government Agents not to accept deposits for Local Government Election 2023, RTI request revealed.

The PM who responded NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 17 January, said the above letter did not sent as per instructions of the Cabinet and if someone said so that was a lie.

However, according to RTI filed by Mawbima newspaper, it has been revealed that Hapuhinna was instructed by the Cabinet on 10 January to send a such a letter.

Hapuhinna who sent the letter on 10 January withdrew it on the next say due to the outrage of the public.

He was summoned to the Election Commission over the letter as well.