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SLPP Chairman finds fault with NFF for taking ‘internal issues’ before the public

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…emphasises miracle created by Basil

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday questioned the rationale in National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa taking up ‘internal issues’ publicly in spite of the coalition having a specific mechanism to address any contentious matter.

Addressing the media at the Waters’ Edge, Prof. Peiris explained how SLPP constituents over a period of two weeks discussed Sri Lanka’s response to accountability accusations at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The SLPP Chairman, who is also the Education Minister emphasized that matters of concern could have been amicably settled within the coalition without causing a public uproar.

Prof. Peiris said that the ruling coalition wanted to set the record straight as regards recent developments. The comments were his first since Weerawansa with the backing of several other lawmakers, including cabinet ministers successfully challenged the move to involve India in the East Container Terminal (ECT) before calling for the inclusion of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the SLPP’s decision-making hierarchy. Weerawansa called for a formal political role for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Referring to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) as weak, Prof. Peiris stressed the need to avoid reckless actions which might confuse the public, especially those who voted for the party at the 2019 and 2020 presidential and parliamentary polls, respectively. That would be advantageous to the bankrupt Opposition, Prof. Peiris said, underscoring the importance of being mindful of political realities.

At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris said internal disagreements weren’t something new in coalition politics. The formation of the SLPP, too, hadn’t been an easy task against the backdrop of the 2015 defeat at the presidential election, Prof. Peiris said, urging all stakeholders to be mindful of the challenges, obstacles faced in the run-up to receiving recognition of the party in late 2016.

Prof. Peiris paid a glowing tribute to the role played by former SLFP National Organizer and ex-minister Basil Rajapaksa in the launch of the new party (re-registering under a new name) at a time a section of those in their camp asserted that there was no requirement for a new party. Prof. Peiris said that though they declared the then Joint Opposition was sufficient for their project, Basil Rajapaksa quite rightly formed the party. The SLPP founder believed that they required new space and was determined to bring the project to fruition and in less than one and half years, the SLPP convincingly won the Feb 2018 Local Government polls. Again underscoring Basil Rajapaksa’s role, Prof. Peiris said that securing 71 per cent of LG councils at that poll was nothing but a miracle for a new party.

There had been no previous instance of a ruling party losing LG poll in Sri Lanka, the SLPP Chairman said.

Prof. Peiris said there had been very difficult negotiations among the constituents in the run-up to the 2020 general election as regards the nominations. However, they were able to settle the issue amicably, Minister Peiris said, citing the 20th Amendment to the Constitution as another contentious matter successfully addressed through talks.

Referring to the recent issues, Prof. Peiris said that those involved were experienced in politics and could respond to situations, prudently.

Commenting on the collective responsibility of members of the cabinet, Prof. Peiris said that once the cabinet finalized a decision on any given matter, there couldn’t be a public debate over such issues under any circumstances. Such a scenario would be detrimental to the government and the country, the SLPP Chairman said, warning of a catastrophe if members of the cabinet violated the basic rules. Prof. Peiris warned of the disastrous impact on the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and irreparable damage to foreign policy especially in the run up to the Geneva sessions next week.

One-time External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris said that as Sri Lanka was on the Geneva agenda, SLPP constituents were discussing their response. The Minister said that they were in the process of reaching consensus on Geneva response. According to the Minister, both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa had been involved in those deliberations.

Responding to a media query, Minister Peiris said that the government would provide a copy of the PCoI report on the Easter Sunday attacks to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. The Minister emphasized that there was no need for international intervention in the matter. The Minister pointed out that the Cardinal appeared before the PCoI as he had faith in the inquiry therefore the media shouldn’t undermine the process by raising issues they didn’t do during the previous yahapalana administration.

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AG not bound by its recommendations, yet to receive report

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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.

They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.

Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.

With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.

 

Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.

Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.

The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.

Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.

Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.

The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.

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JVP picks holes in PCoI report

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By Saman Indrajith

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.

“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”

Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.

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