Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Ranga Dissanayake, today firmly denied allegations that he had previously been a member of a political committee.
- His response came after former JVP frontliner Nandana Gunathilaka claimed on Hiru TV’s Balaya program that Dissanayake had served on the JVP legal committee, questioning the impartiality of the Commission’s current head.
“In 2004, I became a magistrate. In 2020, I was appointed a High Court judge. In 2025, I assumed this position. If I had been involved in active politics, I would not have been eligible to serve as a judge,” Dissanayake said. He added that Gunathilaka had remained silent on the matter for 20 years.
Dissanayake further stated that if such concerns exist, a formal complaint should be lodged with the Judicial Service Commission or the Constitutional Council rather than raised through media discussions.
“I have never been a member of such a committee. If this allegation is made, it must be proven. This is a strange culture where an accusation is made, and the accused is expected to prove their innocence,” he remarked.
Responding to additional claims that he was linked to a travel ban imposed on former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Dissanayake said he had no recollection of such an incident and was certain he had taken no such action.
“As the Fort Magistrate, I issued warrants against Arjuna Mahendran, Ravi Karunanayake, and others. However, no such incident as claimed by him took place,” he clarified.
The CIABOC chief alleged that the accusations were part of a campaign to discredit the Bribery Commission and weaken public confidence in its work.
