ACF consultant Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon says he is surprised by the president’s having said he was against the summoning of military chiefs and top government officials to courts and the long incarceration of intelligence officers.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, Tennakoon noted the ex-Navy chiefs and the former defence secretary had been summoned for a court hearing with regard to the Avant Garde issue.

It is true the military officers had gone to war. But, if they had done something wrong by holding other positions after the war, court action should be taken against them as per the country’s laws, the ACF consultant said.

He said he understood the FCID had merely followed that procedure.

He went onto say that legal action was being taken against some corrupt, while the others have escaped due to their political affiliations, noting the Central Bank bond issue as a case in point.

It is clear that investigations into corruption are being politically interfered with, said Tennakoon.

Civil society and professional organizations that played a key role in president Sirisena’s elevating that position say they are strongly opposed to his remark.

They will hold a media briefing in Colombo tomorrow to announce their stand.