By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is to step up their controversial probe into ex-minister S.B.Dissanayake’s involvement in some "irregular dealings" while he was in charge of the Samurdhi portfolio, authoritative sources said yesterday.

"Yes. We have to examine the available evidence and then take a decision whether to go ahead with the investigation," the source said while expressing confidence that they would be able to decide on the fate of their inquiry within weeks.

Responding to questions, the source said that the inquiry was launched in late August while Dissanayake was the subject minister. At that time, Dissanayake also held key portfolios of Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Up-country Development.

The UNP led United National Front government wants President Chandrika Kumaratunga to go ahead with the inquiry speedily. Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was forced to take oaths as the Samurdhi Minister on Wednesday after President Kumaratunga refused to swear in one-time colleague and close associate, Dissanayake as the subject minister in view of the ongoing investigation.

The UNP wants the president to carry out the investigation speedily.

Dissanayake who was sworn in as the Agriculture and Livestock minister has repeatedly denied allegations levelled against him claiming that these accusations have been prompted by his decision to revolt against the then Kumaratunga administration.

R.A.D.Sirisena was sworn in as the Samurdhi Minister [non-cabinet rank], party sources said adding that the Kegalle district MP would run the "place’ till the matter was sorted out or the investigation dropped by the commission.

Dissanayake was among about 30 persons including senior Samurdhi officials questioned by the commission in connection with the probe. Their statements were also recorded by the investigation branch of the commission consisting of retired supreme court judge Anandakumaraswamy[chairman], retired appeal court judge T. N.Abeyweera and retired senior DIG Kingsley Wickremesuriya. The sources did not rule out the possibility of their requesting Dissanayake to appear before the commission again.

The sources implied that the decision - whether to go ahead with the probe or drop it - would be taken "jointly" by the three commissioners.

Responding to further questions, the sources said that Director General Piyadasa Ranasinghe whose appointment fuelled speculation of a deliberate PA bid to "fix" Dissanayake a few weeks before the December 5, election would file a charge sheet in the magistrate court or indict the ex-Samurdhi chief in the high court if the commission unanimously believes that there was enough evidence.

Additional Solicitor General Rienzie Arsecularatne was removed from his post as Acting Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He immediately accused the then government of President Kumaratunga of removing him because the administration did not like the way he was handling investigations.

In an interview with The Island at his Malalasekera Mawatha office, Arsecularatne said that the sudden removal "appeared to have been prompted by his determination to go ahead with investigations when evidence was available and reluctance to do so when there was no evidence.

At the time of Arseclaratne’s removal, complaints had been made to the commission demanding probes into controversial cases involving Ronnie Peiris, a person said to be a close associate of the president, Channel Nine affair, Thavakkal affair, BOI case and minister Mangala Samaraweera’s credit card case or other cases involving opposition politicians.