News
Justice Balapatabendi-led PSC decision awaited
Report on law officers’ failure to thwart Zahran
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The nine-member Public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, is in the process of deciding on Attorney General’s Department investigation into the alleged negligence on the part of two of its officers – Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi and State Counsel Malik Azeez, in respect of the handling of a file on now proscribed National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim responsible for 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The PSC consists of Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, Indrani Sugathadasa, V. Shivagnanasothy, Dr. T. R. C. Ruberu, Ahamed Lebbe Mohamed Saleem, Leelasena Liyanagama, Dian Gomes, Dilith Jayaweera and W. H. Piyadasa.
The PSC yesterday (18) confirmed receipt of the disciplinary inquiry report late last month.
The action taken by the incumbent Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, pertaining to the alleged failure on the part of the two officers recently transpired in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI).
At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, President’s Counsel Jayantha Jayasuriya functioned as the AG. De Livera succeeded Jayasuriya, a week after the Easter carnage. Jayasuriya is the incumbent Chief Justice.
The P CoI on Thursday (17) inquired from State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne about the circumstances leading to AG de Livera writing to the then Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne on June 18, 2019 as regards the status of the Easter Sunday investigation. The P CoI was told contrary to claim that I’B extracts (comprehensive investigations material file) had been received on June 7, 2017, the AG got it on May 6, 2019.
The three-member AG’s Department committee that inquired into the conduct of the two law officers initiated the probe in Feb 2020, over 4 months after the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) concluded its investigation.
At the onset of Jayaratne’s testimony, many an eyebrow was raised when attorney-at-law Tenny Fernando appeared for the State Counsel without her knowledge. When the State Counsel emphasized Fernando was never asked to do so, the attorney-at-law said he appeared on his own without permission.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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