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AG reacts to delay in corona probe: Wants to instruct probe team personally

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘… second wave caused serious threat to people’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Expressing serious concern over the delay in initiating a criminal investigation into the sudden eruption of covid-19 second wave in the first week of Oct, Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, has told Acting IGP C.D. Wickremaratne that he would personally issue instructions to the investigators.

Wickremaratne has been informed of the AG’s unprecedented move on Thursday (5) in the wake of the inordinate delay in the high profile probe.

There hadn’t been a previous instance of AG de Livera or any of his predecessors calling police investigators for a briefing before the commencement of an investigation.

As per instructions issued in writing on Oct 5, President’s Counsel de Livera emphasized that advising the team of police officers chosen by the Acting IGP was his legitimate duty and responsibility.

The AG has told the IGP to submit him a list of officers tasked with the investigation.

The unexpected move made by the AG revealed the lapse on the part of law enforcement authorities in initiating an investigation.

AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told The Island on Nov 5 that the latest intervention was made after specific instructions issued on Oct 29 as regards the launch of an investigation weren’t heeded. Ms Jayaratne said that instructions were issued on Oct 27 and Oct 29 in that regard directing an inquiry into the dangerous situation caused by what the AG called the ‘Brandix cluster.’

Pointing out the catastrophic situation faced by the entire country, the AG directed the appointment of a senior team consisting of experienced investigators to handle the investigation.

Earlier the AG called for a new team after the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) tasked with the investigation was seriously affected by covid-19 epidemic.

The Acting IGP handed over the investigation to the CCD against the backdrop of the country’s premier investigation agency the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) being embroiled in the controversial release of Riyaj Bathiudeen’s held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Acting IGP appointed two teams comprising 30 officers and men each to investigate the circumstances leading to Riyaj’s release in spite of the police headquarters previously claiming the suspect having had direct links with one of the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) suicide bombers. Pending the investigation, police headquarters moved out both DIG CID Nuwan Wedasinghe and Director CID SSP Prasanna de Alwis.

The AG called for a special inquiry on covid-19 eruption while awaiting progress report on the probe on the CID. With the focus on Brandix apparel manufacturing facility at Minuwangoda where the first detection was made, The Island sought clarification from Brandix pertaining two vital matters expected to be also probed by the police.

Q: Did Brandix bring in a group of technicians from India (four or five persons), in addition to 341 Brandix workers and family members brought to Mattala in three flights?

A: No, as we have stated before, we did not bring in any person of Indian nationality to Sri Lanka during this time. 341 of our Sri Lankan employees who work at our facilities in Visakhapatnam, India and their families were brought back to Sri Lanka in 03 separate flights, and certificates from authorities confirming their 28-day quarantine period is available for all 341 individuals. These certificates pertaining to all passengers have been produced for verification to the relevant authorities.

Q: The final flight was scheduled to bring in 60 persons though only 48 arrived in Mattala. Why did 12 people not come back?

A: In early September, we had requested the necessary approvals from the Government to bring back 60 of our Sri Lankan employees and their families from our facility in Visakhapatnam, India.

While we awaited approval and confirmation of the flight for their return thereafter, 12 of our employees had agreed to stay back and continue working since the ground situation in India was improving at the time. As a result, only 48 of the 60 individuals we had originally sought approval for, arrived on the flight on 22nd September 2020.

Meanwhile, Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana, who is also in charge of the Police Legal Division yesterday told Derana anchor Sanka Amarjith that the investigation called by the AG was delayed due two reasons. DIG Rohana said that in addition to some of the CCD officers contracting coronavirus, the CCD had to record statements of those affected by corona attached to Minuwangoda Brandix facility. DIG Rohana said that the inquiry though being delayed would be conducted by the CCD as directed by the Acting IGP.

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando