The Opposition cited the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, explaining that the Director General is a subordinate officer who must operate under the Commission's direction. They argued that the allegations raise “reasonable doubt” regarding the independence of the anti-corruption body. The petition stated, “We do not know if these claims are true, but it is the Commission's main duty to investigate them,” warning that Dissanayake's ongoing role could interfere with a fair inquiry. The petition was signed by several opposition politicians, including former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs G. L. Peiris, as well as Athula Kumara, Peshala Serasinghe, and Bandula Chandrasekara. A group that included Ajith Mannapperuma from the United National Party, Sugeeswara Bandara from the New People’s Front, Bandula Chandrasekara from the United Republic Front, Janaka Ranawaka from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and Peshala Serasinghe from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party delivered the petition to the CIABOC. The Opposition is calling for three actions: a fair investigation into the claims in the affidavit, the suspension or compulsory leave of the Director General to ensure an unhindered inquiry, and swift legal action based on the investigation's results. As of the time of this report, the CIABOC had not publicly responded to the petition.
