report in The Sunday Times, Sept 10, 2023
President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appoint a retired judge, possibly from the Supreme Court, to probe controversial revelations made by Britain’s Channel 4 television.
The Sunday Times learns that it will be a prelude to the appointment of another Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) if it is found that the matter requires further investigation. Already, a Parliamentary Select Committee and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry have probed the incidents.
However, this makes clear that President Wickremesinghe will not heed calls for an international investigation. Nevertheless, it acknowledges the need for a deeper probe despite vehement denials of those principally implicated in the disputed disclosures.
An indication of a proposed appointment of a PSC came early this week when Minister Manusha Nanayakkara declared that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided on such an appointment.
However, his remarks were contested by government spokesperson and media minister Bandula Gunawardena. He declared that no matter outside the agenda was discussed at last week’s ministerial meeting.
Nanayakkara also issued a statement together with his ministerial colleague Harin Fernando to say they had spoken much earlier about the revelations in the Channel 4 broadcast. That appears to be an endorsement of the report.
Both Colombo’s Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa have called for an international investigation. The prelate said in a three-page statement that “all those officials who are in the police and intelligence services coming under investigation on this matter (the massacres) and who hold positions presently should be suspended forthwith.” Premadasa made the call when he spoke in Parliament. He held the view that previous probes had not been adequate……..
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230910/columns/channel-4-expose-president-to-order-probe-by-retired-sc-judge-532112.html
