Former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal to quash the findings of the Presidential Commission on Political Victimization.

Issuing a statement Wickremesinghe explained the reasons leading to his move to challenge the findings of the Commission.

He said: "• When I attended the hearings of the commission I was informed that I was not a respondent but was present as a witness. No charges or complaints were served on me and there was no disclosure of any material against me.

• I have not been served an official copy of the report to date. However, I have learnt from unofficial copies of what is said to be the report being circulated that the Presidential Commission has made findings against me despite there being no charges filed against me.

• The Anti-Corruption Committee and secretariat were established by the previous government subsequent to approval by the Cabinet of Ministers to provide expeditious investigation and disposal of complaints of corruption. At all material times, it was the relevant authorities such as the Police, Attorney General's Department and the Judiciary that decided on the investigation and prosecution of the cases. I have never interfered with the investigations or the authorities involved. All expenditure in respect of these investigations has been made in accordance with the law.

• I have not been informed of the charges if any against me or given a proper hearing in respect of same. There are grave and serious errors in the record. The findings of the Presidential Commission are vitiated by bias and have been made in complete violation of the principles of natural justice"