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UNP supporters in Colombo Central have urged President Mahinda Rajapakse to initiate a fresh inquiry into a galvanised roofing sheets scandal involving a prominent UNPer from Colombo Central claiming that the initial investigations conducted by the police had been 'tampered' with by 'influential' parties.

The roofing sheets, a donation by the Government of India issued to be distributed free among the needy people in Colombo Central in June 2004 had been reportedly sold to a trader in Wattala for Rs. 1.5 million. The actual value of the goods is Rs. two million, sources said. A Colombo North UNP organiser, identified as "Pushpanandan" is reported to have transacted this illegal deal on behalf of the politician concerned.

The Wattala Police took the goods into custody while it was lying in a store at Wattala. Police said that some labourers at the 'store' were in the process of erasing the 'not for sale' label at the time the detection was made. Some UNP supporters who are urging a fresh probe into the incident claim that 'interested' parties have involved an estate labourer in this case as the suspect. This suspect had been in remand for over six months and was released on bail last month.

They have stated in their complaint to the President that the arrest of Pushpanandan would help the investigations urging steps are taken to initiate a fresh inquiry.

The letter has been copied to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

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