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Church defends media freedom, seeks inquiry into Dappula’s claim of Easter Sunday international conspiracy

Published

5 years ago

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Catholic Church spokesman Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando says that ongoing government efforts to rein in the media, including social media platforms is actually a sign of weakness.

Rev. Fernando insists the incumbent administration cannot suppress the truth by muzzling the media as no government ever succeeded in doing so.

Rev. Fernando, currently the parish priest of St. Anne’s Church, Kurana, told The Island that the government could easily silence what it considered hostile media by changing its strategies.

Responding to another query, Rev. Fernando emphasized that the government should reexamine post-2019 presidential election vis-a-vis the promises made by the then Joint Opposition (JO) in the run-up to the change of government.

Unfortunately, the incumbent dispensation had resorted to strong arm tactics in addition to threats and intimidation of sections of the media considered hostile to the government, Rev. Fernando said.

The top Church spokesperson said that the recent disclosure in Parliament of an alleged attempt to silence Sirasa TV underscored the need to be vigilant. Recalling the suppression of the media by successive governments since the 80s, Rev. Fernando stressed that no one could achieve that despicable objective.

Regardless of the State resorting to terror tactics and various other underhand methods, the entire media couldn’t be controlled or influenced to follow the agenda desired by those in power. The SLPP government appeared to have wrongly recognized the media as an emerging threat and taken measures to neutralize that challenge, Rev Fernando said.

Asked whether the Church would take up these contentious issues with the government, Rev. Fernando said that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith regularly commented on public interest issues so much so in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage some accused the Church of backing the then Opposition.

“The then Opposition is in power today. It enjoys a near two-thirds majority in Parliament having backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the presidential election. But, today, we are struggling to convince them of the need to bring the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday carnage before a court of law,” Rev. Fernando said. The priest said that the Attorney General’s Office and the police owed an explanation over the latter’s failure to question former Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, regarding a controversial statement he made several days before his retirement in late May 2021.

Rev. Fernando asked how could the government ignore de Livera’s declaration that there is clear evidence of a grand conspiracy linked to Sri Lanka’s 2019 Easter bombings. De Livera has said that information that the state intelligence service (SIS) had, “with times, targets, places, method of attack and other information is clear evidence there was a grand conspiracy in place with regard to the April 21 2019 attack.”

Rev Fernando emphasized that investigations couldn’t have been completed without the CID recording the former AG’s statement. Pointing out that De Livera made the declaration on May 18 about a week before his retirement, the police were yet to question one-time outspoken official, who fearlessly led the grilling of those involved in the Bond Scams before the special Presidential Commission of Inquiry that probed the daring heist involving some of the highest individuals in the yahapalana government and others.

The Church official alleged that the government conveniently forgot the Presidential Commission report on the Easter Sunday carnage. “What have they done with it? In spite of big talk, the government didn’t implement the PCoI recommendations. In fact, we are wondering why the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and the PCoI were appointed at all,” Rev Fernando said, alleging that those in authority apparently perpetrated a massive fraud on the people.

Having examined the proceedings of the PSC, the PCoI as well as speeches made in Parliament, Rev. Fernando said that he couldn’t comprehend how the government continued to suppress the truth. Rev. Fernando said that one didn’t need the skills of a Sherlock Holmes to realise that those who carried out the actual bombings weren’t the masterminds of the dastardly crime.

Rev Fernando said that those trying to suppress the truth would find fault with the Church and the independent media for raising concerns. The Church believed the government couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for ensuring justice.

The priest urged the media to courageously report what was going on. Acknowledging the role played by the social media, Rev Fernando said that those in Parliament shouldn’t be blind to the reality. The recent controversy over the increase in fuel prices resulted in the disclosure of the pathetic state of the national economy, Rev Fernando said. The admission that two key state enterprises, the CPC and the CEB, owed a staggering Rs 737 bn to state banks and may cause the collapse of the banking sector was shocking, the priest said.

Referring to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s declaration that the country had to meet annual loan repayment obligations amounting to USD 4 bn should be examined against the backdrop of allegations pertaining to waste, corruption, irregularities and negligence, the priest said.

Rev Fernando also strongly criticized the deployment of police to breakup legitimate protests against the government. The move to exploit recent instructions relating to the Covid-19 prevention health guidelines to suppress those opposed to government projects should be condemned, Rev Fernando said, citing the police intervention to break up a peaceful protest against the Kotelawela Defence University Bill as a case in point.

Having captured power with a huge mandate, the SLPP government was doing everything on its own to antagonize the public, Rev Fernando said. The hasty decision to ban chemical fertiliser without making proper arrangements to introduce organic fertiliser, destruction of X-Press Pearl in Sri Lankan waters, financial crisis and general breakdown of law and order leading to decline in public confidence should be matters for serious concern, the Church spokesman said.

Rev. Fernando said that the failure on the part of the government to ensure a transparent vaccination programme was also a serious issue. The reportage of the Covid-19 control ‘operations’ and the vaccination programme were mired in controversy, the priest said, urging the government to take tangible measures to address the concerns of the public.


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Presidential Suite at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital opened to the public

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12 hours ago

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2026/03/27

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The special ward at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, which had until now been reserved exclusively for the use of the Executive President, was opened for the public for the provision of medical treatment to the general public from Tuesday (24).

This decision was taken jointly by the Ministry of Health and the hospital administration, in accordance with instructions given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Constructed in 1984 with a grant from the Government of Japan, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital was originally established with a capacity of 1,000 beds. However, in line with the initial design, an additional special unit, designated as Room No. 1001, was included exclusively for the personal use of the Executive President.

Over the 42 years since the hospital’s establishment, this facility has been utilised only on a very limited number of occasions. Nevertheless, it has been maintained over the years in anticipation of a possible visit by a sitting President, without being made available for patient use.

With effect from today, this special unit will be utilised for the benefit of general patients receiving treatment at the hospital. This step has been taken in line with the Government’s policy of ensuring the more efficient use of public assets and resources to meet the healthcare needs of the people.

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Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to streamline the Public Service meets for the second time

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12 hours ago

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2026/03/27

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The second meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to ensure the orderly functioning of the public service was held on Tuesday (24) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.

Extensive discussions were held on the immediate measures required to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of government services to the public and to address the challenges faced by public servants.

Attention was also drawn to maintaining the continuous operation of services under the Ministries of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Health, Education, and Justice. Accordingly, it was decided to ensure that examinations are conducted as scheduled and that essential medicines are supplied to hospitals without disruption.

The challenges in passenger transport services and the railway transport system, as well as future measures, were also discussed at length. Focus was also placed on the steps to be taken regarding the transportation of essential goods.

In addition, attention was given to introducing digital service systems to facilitate working from home and to enhance the efficiency of existing services. It was also noted that these activities would be supervised under the Ministry of Digital Economy.

Instructions were further issued to review the current energy management practices across all ministries and departments and to take steps to implement necessary policy changes.

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A. H. M. M. H. Abeyaratne, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Professor T. M. Udayanga Hemapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy T. R. W. S. Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinasena, PC, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, and Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation D. J. A. S. S. Rajakaruna, along with other committee members, were also present at the occasion.

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Energy Minister indicted on corruption charges ahead of no-faith motion against him

Published

22 hours ago

on

2026/03/27

By

Jayakody

… first NPPer to face charges under Section 70 of Bribery Act

Colombo High Court has issued summons on Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody to appear in court today (27) to serve indictment in a corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Action has been taken under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. The losses suffered by the government have been estimated at Rs. 8,859,708.

National List (NL) MP Jayakody is the first NPP minister or politician at any level to be indicted for corruption. The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 including 18 NL members.

The summons has been issued by High Court judge Rashantha Godawalage.

Although CIABOC previously in many instances arrested those who had been under investigation and produced them before Magistrate courts, Minister Jayakody has been directly summoned by the Colombo High Court.

The investigation into alleged corruption in procurement during the time Jayakody served the Ceylon Fertilizer Corporation (CFC) started after the change of government in 2015.

According to the CIABOC investigation, the alleged instance of corruption took place in early 2014 towards the tail end of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term. At that time Jayakody was CFC’s Procurement Manager, and the CIABOC dragged the investigation until its current leadership under overall speeding up of the cases recently completed the inquiry.

Parliament recently announced that the debate on no-faith motion moved against Minister Jayakody over alleged irregularities in the procurement of substandard coal for the country’s only coal-fired power station at Norochcholai.

SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said that the NPP, having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform during presidential and parliamentary polls in 2025 couldn’t under any circumstances shield minister Jayakody. The indictment of Jayakody over a corruption case that had happened in 2014 and the failure on his part to fulfill obligations as Energy Minister under the current dispensation couldn’t be considered separately, the Colombo District MP said.

The issue at hand is whether the NPP would try to protect Jayakody at the expense of the government, MP Rahman said. Once the NPPer is formally charged in a corruption case the government would find it extremely difficult to keep him in the cabinet, the former UNPer said.

SJB lawmaker S.M. Marrikar recently warned Minister Jayakody that he should be prepared to serve a jail term. The warning was issued at a media briefing that primarily dealt with the alleged irregularities in the procurement of coal and their decision to move a no-faith motion against the minister. Marrikar explained how the crisis coupled with the growing diesel shortage could compel the government to increase electricity tariffs by as much as 18 percent next week. MP Marikkar said that they were eagerly waiting to see who backs Jayakody at the expense of the government during the upcoming  vote on the no-faith motion.

There had been a previous case of a sitting minister being charged under the Bribery Act in respect of corruption perpetrated as a government servant. MP Rahman said that they intended to intensify the ongoing campaign against the government on the strength of the unprecedented corruption case and the outcome of the no-faith motion. “Of course, they have the numbers to defeat our no-faith motion. But, in doing so, they end up with egg on their face. That is the reality,” Rahman said, adding that those responsible for waste, corruption and irregularities whichever political parties they represented shouldn’t expect special status.

MP Rahman alleged that the CIABOC granted special status to Minister Jayakody. All those who had been indicted previously were first called to the CIABOC, recorded their statements and then arrested, handcuffed and produced in court. The media was afforded the opportunity to cover their humiliation, MP Rahman said, but in this case the powers that be paved the way for the accused to receive indictments directly from the Colombo High Court.

“Let us see whether the Bar Association of Sri Lanka responds to this development,” MP Rahman said.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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