United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday challenged former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a statement in Parliament that he has never received any financial gratuities from a Chinese company as revealed in the New York Times.
He said if Rajapaksa has not taken money, he should clearly state this in Parliament.
The Minister said that the government will not allow anyone responsible for crimes and corruption in the past to escape or avoid punishment.
He said the government has set up a mechanism to ensure speedy trials through special courts in order to bring to justice those responsible for corruption and crimes, irrespective of status.
Addressing a public event in Colombo, the Minister said the people would give a fitting reply to those who are trying to spread religious and ethnic disharmony in order to divert attention from their wrongdoings.