Minister slams Lankan police for tardy progress in graft cases

The new Sri Lankan government today asked the police department to submit a report within 10 days on the action taken to unravel the large-scale corruption allegations linked to the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.
Slamming the department, Minister of Public Order John Amaratunga asked the police to expedite investigation into the complaints of financial crimes and frauds during the Rajapaksa government.
"I want you to list the high-profile cases in the past five to six years and I want (you) to tell me in 10 days what action you have taken," Amaratunga told police chief NK Ilangakoon.
One of the high-profile cases to be re-investigated relate to the 2009 murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, who edited Sri Lankan weekly 'Sunday Leader.'

Wickrematunga, a critic of former president Rajapaksa, was killed in broad daylight in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
President Maithripala Sirisena in the run up to the presidential election this January had pledged swift action against those involved in financial crimes and fraud from the previous dispensation.

The almost month-old government has already faced public discontent over its tardy progress.
"You say you are investigating but where are the results," Amaratunga questioned the police chief.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to set up a separate police unit to probe the alleged financial crimes and frauds, the ColomboPage reported.
Sirisena defeated Rajapaksa in a fiercely contested election in January.