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Political victimisation PCoI report not President’s private property, JVP leader says, demanding its immediate release

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/1

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP yesterday called on the government to release the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Political Victimization immediately.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said: “The PCoI report on political victimization is not family property of the President to keep it to himself. We have asked the government umpteen times to make it public. I made many requests at the party leaders’ meeting and Parliament sessions to that effect. We have made requests to the Speaker. Under the provisions of the Right to Information Act we made a request to the Presidential Secretariat on Jan 21. The Information Officer of the Presidential Secretariat on Feb 08 informed us that the report could not be made available. Thereafter, we made an appeal for the purpose on Feb 22. My legal counsel too made a request on Jan 29. On Feb 12 our Attorney-at- Law Sunil Watagala made another request but so far no response.

“The report contains information about cases of corruption and malpractices that took place prior to 2015. People have a right to know the report’s contents. Further, it contains information about cases of killings and abductions and massive frauds. Therefore we demand that the report be immediately made available to the public.”

The JVP leader alleged that soon after the incumbent government had come to power a PCoI was appointed under the Chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne to inquire into the incidents of political victimisation. “The commission was in operation from Jan 2020 to Nov 26, 2020 and handed over its report to the President on Dec 08, 2020. Thereafter, an addendum containing 48 more pages was handed over to the President. On Jan 15 ,President Gotabaya Rajapaksa obtained Cabinet approval for directing the Attorney General to withdraw certain number of cases mentioned in the PCoI report. Among these cases are the one against Udayanga Weeratunga, who is the main accused of the infamous MiG aircraft deal, one against Udaya Gammanpila charged for defrauding an Australian businessman in a private transaction, case against Basil Rajapaksa and Thiru Nadesan about Malwana luxury house, case against Yoshita Rajapaksa as regards funds for CSN channel, case against Jaliya Wickremasuriya’s alleged purchasing of a building for the Sri Lanka’s Embassy in the US, case against Nalaka Godahewa giving funds of Securities and Exchange Commission to the Tharunyata Hetak movement, the case regarding killing and abduction of 11 youth for extortion of money, case against Pillayan on killing of Joseph Pararajasingham, the MP Raviraj murder case, case on Lasantha Wickramatunga assassination, cases on abducting and assaulting journalists Keith Noyahr, Upali Tennakoon, Poddala Jayantha and others, cases against misappropriation of public funds, Avant Garde case etc. This is nothing but trying to save fraudsters, corrupt officials and murderers using victimisation as an excuse to release them from a number of court cases.

“People have a right to know and the government should not hide the PCoI report made by the commission using public funds. The report should be made public immediately,” Dissanayake said.

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Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.

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Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

(File pic)

Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).

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CJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

CJ Surasena

‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’

Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.

Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.

‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.

Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.

Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.

Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.

By Shamindra Ferdinando