"Why was Gotabhaya taken without informing me?"

Certain statements made by President Maithripala Sirisena last evening addressing the Award Ceremony of Housing, 'Sathviru Sanhinda' at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute has created an outburst in political circles. Though a statement was directly not aimed at Prime Minister Ranil, opinions have been expressed that those are criticisms
targetted with the Prime Minister in mind.  Those ideas expressed on that occasion are as follows:

* that if the CID, FCID and the Bribery Commission work according to political agenda, I also have to take decisions;

* an Intelligence Service officer is being detained for a long period of time without the problem at hand being questioned. Action that weaken the security services and bringing disrepute to armed forces should not be carried out;

* The methodology where the former Defence Secretary and the former three Navy Commanders being taken to courts cannot be agreed upon;

* If there is any issue with regard to the Ministry of Defence and the Avant Garde Company, there should be a separate method, action and decisions to be employed in that context;

* Stalwarts of the Security division such as the former Navy Commanders and Secretary of Defence have been brought to courts without any knowledge or influence of mine;

* I have no necessity to imprison somebody or put in remand;

* If stalwarts of the Security Division such as the former Defence Secretary and former Navy Commanders are to be called to courts, I should be informed as the Secretary of Defence and the President;

* Secretaries of Independent Commission Committees and Director Generals should act with more responsibility and intelligence;

* Justice should be applied equally to everybody and should be impartial;

* Independent Commission Committees should not operate according to political agenda;

* I have not become the President to give telephone calls to courts, to poke my finger into Independent Commission Committees, to influence Judges or to release serious offenders through the Attorney General.