By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa called on the government yesterday to reveal the names of the masterminds of the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Premadasa told the Parliament that former President Maithripala Sirisena had now made a statement containing information about the Easter Sunday attacks. “We want to know the names and also the names of those who kept that information from the people. We call on the government to inform this House of the actions that it would take against those who concealed the information. Since 2019, hundreds of thousands of people, in this country, have been waiting to know the truth. There are commission reports pertaining to this incident. The government keeps this information from the people. The incumbent President promised to call for an international inquiry into the matter. That promise is yet to be delivered,” Premadasa said.

Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said that the Attorney General’s Department had already begun legal action pertaining to remarks made by former President Maithripala Sirisena that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. “Making a statement with regard to the remarks made by MP Sirisena will be sub judice,” he said.

Premadasa: You came to power promising to take legal action against those responsible. What action have you taken?

Minister Premajayantha: You had been in the Cabinet of the government at that time. What action did you take to prevent the attacks? What have you done to apprehend the culprits?

Justice Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the Attorney General’s Department has implemented the actions recommended to it by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry which probed the Easter Sunday attacks, however other departments of law enforcement are yet to carry out theirs.

The Minister said that institutions, other than the AG’s Department, including the police, are yet to implement the recommendations of the PCoI. “The Presidential Commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks made recommendations to various institutions such as the Attorney General’s Department and the police. The Attorney General’s Department had filed 41 court cases against 79 persons as of now. It is essential for the other institutions, such as the police, to implement the other recommendations of the Presidential Commission,” the Minister said.

MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to get the former President to reveal everything that he knows about the Easter Sunday attacks.

“The Speaker has the right to get the former President to reveal in Parliament what he knows about the Easter Sunday attacks,” he said.