Sheain Fernandopulle Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was working towards releasing Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen who was alleged to have performed illegal sterilization, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said today.

Addressing a news conference, he said there was no need of an institution called CID if it attempted to release the criminals, even when there were clear cut evidences to prove their culpability.

It seems that the CID is doing the same thing in the case of Shafi as it is doing for former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. The CID is doing everything to disprove that Bathiudeen had not abetted to flourish extremism in the country,” MP Weerawansa said.

It is clear that the CID protects extremists and criminals,” MP Weerawansa added.

However, he said they were even ready to come out with relevant names of officials who are clearing Dr. Shafi, if any senior official of the CID challenged them.

Now the CID is attempting to put the journalist who revealed the case of Shafi first, behind the bars,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the complaint lodged by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu to the Police Commission against Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake claiming that the Mahanayake Thera had aroused the feelings of disharmony by uttering that Dr. Shrfi must be stoned to death, should be ignored as the statement of the Mahanayake Thera was not expressed with the real intention of stoning him to death.

The stoning law is not in our Constitution and it is not a mode of punishment in Sri Lanka. Hence, the statement signifies the gravity of what was allegedly done by Dr. Shafi,” he added. (