By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (28) scoffed at police headquarters request for a report on the Easter Sunday carnage the party had handed over to the representatives of the Catholic Church on Monday (26) at St. Anyhony’s Church, Bambalapitiya.

Colombo District SJB lawmaker Dr. Harsha de Silva emphasised that there was absolutely no basis for police headquarters claim that a confidential report had been handed over to the Executive Director of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), Maradana, at the Bambalapitiya Church.

Responding to another query, MP de Silva said that he accompanied the SJB delegation led by Chief Opposition Whip attorney-at-law Lakshman Kiriella. According to the former non-cabinet minister, the document contained issues at hand pertaining to the Easter Sunday mystery raised in parliament by SJB lawmakers, Manusha Nanayakkara, Harin Fernando and others.

DIG (Legal) attorney-at-law Ajith Rohana yesterday revealed that Director, CID requested Executive Director, Center for Society and Religion (CSR), Maradana, to hand over the copy received on Monday.

DIG Rohana refrained from naming the SJB as the party responsible for the so called confidential report. DIG Rohana said that the CID believed the report could be quite helpful to their ongoing investigations.

Lawmaker de Silva said that he was quite amused by the move made by the police. Reiterating the report contained what the SJB said in and outside parliament, MP de Silva requested the police to listen to statements made by Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando in parliament last week.

The meeting between the SJB and the Catholic clergy took place at Bambalapitiya in the wake of authorities prohibiting the gathering scheduled to take place at CSR, Maradana.

The SJB has told the Catholic clergy that an attempt was made to arrest MP Harin Fernando who challenged the alleged government bid to save those who perpetrated the Easter Sunday carnage. The main Opposition party has urged the Catholic Church to step up pressure on the government on the basis of several pertinent questions raised by the SJB in parliament.

MP de Silva said that the government never answered the questions raised by SJB members in parliament. The former UNPer questioned the rationale in the police adopting delaying tactics regardless of continuing concerns expressed by the Catholic Church.