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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Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.
“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.
“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.
“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.
“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”
“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.
As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.
As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.
I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.
Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.
Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.
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CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme
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The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.
According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.
The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.
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