News
Opposition accuses govt. of trying to tamper with evidence
PCoI report on Easter Sunday carnage:
… fears move to take legal action selectively
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB yesterday accused the government of trying to tamper with evidence to take legal action against those responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage selectively.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry had completed its investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks after studying evidence for nearly one and half years and handed over its report to the President recently.
“Thereafter, instead of referring the report to the Attorney General or Bribery Commission to take legal action on the basis of the report’s recommendations, a new committee of ministers has been appointed to study the recommendations. This is unacceptable and illegal. During the previous government, we passed a new law enabling the Attorney General to use commission reports as evidence to file legal action. I, as the then Leader of the House, moved that bill. As per the law, when a presidential commission completes its investigation and hands over its report it should be referred to the Attorney General for legal action. The government is not doing so because some of those the commission has found responsible for the lapses that led to the terror attacks are now in the government.
“The government wants to save them and take action against only others. The ministerial committee has been appointed to suppress evidence.”
Kiriella said that Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith too had called on the government to give a copy of the report to the Attorney General. “The Cardinal has stated that the government is trying to hide some facts. He is right. A member of the committee of politicians has stated that they would study the PCoI report and make recommendations to the President. It is clear now the President is going to take action on the basis of those recommendations. This is not legal. We demand that the PCoI report in its entirety be referred to the Attorney General for legal action. There are enough legal experts in the AG’s Department to study the report.”
The PCoI report had been compiled by three judges. Kiriella said, questioning the qualifications of those who had been appointed to study the PCoI report.
SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva also addressed the press.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
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