President Maithripala Sirisena is yet to give the green light for the arrest of former Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, informed sources within the Attorney General's Department said. 

They said the Police were in a position to arrest Rajapaksa the moment they got the approval from the President. 

Rajapaksa was under investigation for misappropriating over Rs. 90 million when building a memorial for his parents. 

When asked as to why the Police need the President's permission to arrest a suspect in a corruption investigations, the AG's Department said it had become the usual practice when making a "high profile arrest."

It is learnt that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka have completely distanced themselves from the matter, saying the Police and the AG's Department should be allowed to work independently. 

It was after this that they had sought the President's 'approval' for the arrest. 

However, sources within the SLFP said the President might not sanction the arrest as he was of the opinion that the move would further weaken the party ahead of the Local Government election.