By Shamindra Ferdinando

The CID investigating the previous government’s abuse of state-owned vehicles during parliamentary elections in December last year, will question a dozen PA MPs including some former ministers who allegedly obtained vehicles for polls work through the Presidential Security Division (PSD), police headquarters sources said.

"We will begin recording their statements next week," a senior police officer said, adding that the ongoing probe on controversial use of government vehicles was initiated following a directive from the Attorney General’s department. The sources said that they have been able to establish the identities of the politicians allegedly involved in abuses.

The directive was given soon after the CID established that vehicles belonging to the Samurdhi Authority were used by the PSD and two of them were used by the group of persons including PSD personnel allegedly tasked with assassinating Samurdhi Minister S.B. Dissanayake while electioneering at Hanguranketha before the poll.

Police said that on directives given allegedly by the Presidential Secretariat, ministries had released vehicles to the PSD. Later these vehicles had been allocated to various PA electoral organisers. The sources said that PA MP Dilan Perera was questioned and his statement recorded on Wednesday (8) in this regard. After recording the MPs statements, the CID will also question certain Presidential Secretariat officials in this regard.

The vehicle probe would be just a part of the investigation on the PSD.

"The PSD faces several inquiries. They are under investigation in connection with about ten cases," a senior CID officer said, adding that about 15 PSD personnel were in custody. More are expected to be arrested in the coming weeks.

The CID has stepped up its investigation into the September 1999 killing of Satana Editor Rohana Kumara and the attack on the singing duo Rukantha and Chandralekha Perera.

Accusing the CID of targeting the PSD and the Presidential Secretariat for an unprecedented politically motivated attack, President Chandrika Kumaratunga several weeks ago requested Attorney General K.C.Kamalasabeyson to take immediate steps to put an end to their witch hunt and act in a proper and legal manner. President Kumaratunga has also claimed that as a result the CID action, officers and men of the PSD had been demoralised.

Police said that they have no option but to continue with their probe on the PSD.