BBC question based on 'Lanka E News' report - Keheliya

Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in Parliament yesterday said, remarks made by him to the BBCs Sandeshaya programme, that the assassin of MP T. Maheswaran was connected to the EPDP, had been misconstrued by Opposition members.

While accepting the fact that he had said the assassin had connections to Minister Douglas Devananda, Minister Rambukwella said the interview had ended with him stressing that a final conclusion regarding the murder could only be reached following a full investigation.

"What I said during the interview has been criticized by Opposition MPs without taking into account everything I said in the interview. At the end of the interview I stressed that only a full investigation into the assassination would reveal the truth behind the incident", he said.

The Minister however accepted that during the interview he said the assassin was connected to Minister Douglas Devananda, but noted that this was in response to a 'leading question' posed by the BBC reporter.