another commission, to cover up the truth

More than 3 years after the presentation of the report on the serious responsibilities of the intelligence services and politicians, President Wickremesinghe chose to start from scratch by commissioning a new investigation to a new group led by a retired judge. What else needs to be investigated? “Rather, we must explain why those responsible continue to be protected.”

Colombo (Asia News) – A new commission of inquiry will be in charge of investigating the actions and responses of the country’s intelligence and security authorities following the alert received by India on the eve of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. It was appointed by the President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a new measure that the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka denounces as a new delaying movement to avoid reaching the truth about the tragic attacks that hit three churches and several hotels, causing more than 250 deaths.

“The new commission is headed by retired judge ANJ de Alwis,” said spokesman Father Cyril Gamini Fernando at a press conference held at the archbishop’s residence, “but it is a useless waste of time. The government It should be limited to applying the recommendations made by the previous presidential commission, chaired by Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva.’ This body – which delivered its report on February 1, 2021 – carried out an exhaustive investigation into the attacks. Holy Week, highlighting the inability of the intelligence apparatus to act on foreign information and neutralize the growing threat posed by extremist elements.

Father Gamini questioned, in particular, the logic of the decision to entrust the new commission with the review of the conduct of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Head of National Intelligence (CNI). In fact, in January last year, the Supreme Court had already condemned the heads of these two institutions –Nilantha Jayewardena and Sisira Mendis – to pay compensation of 75 and 10 million rupees, respectively. “What else needs to be investigated?” asked the spokesperson for the Episcopal Conference, urging the government to rather apply the recommendations made by the 2021 Commission against politicians and security officials. “The government should rather examine what the country’s successive leaders have done with those recommendations since then.”

The truth,” concluded Father Gamini Fernando, “is that almost two years after the removal of President Rajapaksa, the situation remains the same, “but the Church has not given up fighting for justice.”