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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who has rejected the names of two people nominated by the Foreign Minister for Diplomatic postings abroad on grounds that there are various charges and allegations against them has failed to apply that same policy yardstick in respect of her uncle and former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte against whom investigations are on for retaining undeclared certificates of Deposit valued at over Rs. 40 million in a private bank vault.

This is a big question baffling the general public states UNP media spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleke in a press release issued yesterday.

The release said Ratwatte was the person directly incharge of prosecuting the war under President Kumaratunga's former administration.

Apart from that he was also in charge of the subject of power and energy.

There have been serious allegations of corruption in the purchase of armaments including helicopters and naval attack craft in the past.

Allegations of corruption were also made in respect of the purchase of generators during the power crisis. Ratwatte should bear the major responsibility as regards these allegations in these two sectors, it said.

The release further said that Ratwatte's responsibilities were not restricted to the past only. He is presently the national organiser of the SLFP and a central committee member of the PA who is responsible for conducting the PA election campaigns.

The President is silent when undeclared CDs valued at over Rs. 40 million are found in his bank vaults.

The people question whether the President is condoning Ratwatte's actions by her failure to apply to him the same policy standards applied to the two Sinhala and Muslim Diplomatic nominees.

The President who gave leadership to the war along with Ratwatte had a major duty and responsibility to declare her stance when allegations of financial frauds are made against him. But the President still tried to forget the whole issue pretending as if nothing has happened.

The people had a right to know the President's views on the undeclared money found in Ratwatte's bank vaults and what action she intended to take on the matter, the release said.

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