The government claims that the arrest of United People’s Freedom Alliance Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was not politically motivated.

Ajith P Perera, Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy said the arrest was made following extensive investigations.

He stated this during the weekly Cabinet media briefing yesterday.

Deputy Minister noted that it is through an internal audit conducted in 2014 that it was revealed that 40 vehicles were misused adding that based on the Audit report the Chairman of the State Engineering Cooperation lodged a complaint with the FCID in 2015 September.

An extensive investigation, and after evidence hearing from 30 people including MP Wimal Weerawansa himself, he was arrested adding that the government incurred a loss of 91,635,591 rupees he further noted.

The Deputy Minister said it is important to uncover who used these vehicles adding that MP Wimal Weerawansa’s sister’s eldest and youngest sons, his younger sister and her husband were among them.

The Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division yesterday arrested MP Wimal Weerawansa over discrepancies reported at the State Engineering Cooperation during the tenure of the last government.