By Shamindra Ferdinando in The Island, Oct 16, 2023
The Catholic Church yesterday (15) rejected the government move to appoint a Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into the allegations made in the Channel 4 documentary as regards the complicity of some sections of the government in the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
Top spokesperson for the Catholic Church Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando questioned the purpose in appointing a Special PSC as the issues at hand should be investigated by an efficient team of investigators under the supervision of independent international experts. Rev. Fernando said that another fact-finding mission wouldn’t make a difference as the issues at hand had to be handled at a higher level.
“We have stated our position as regards the shortcomings of the investigation in a letter dated 09 October, addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Therefore, the appointment of another Special PSC is irrelevant,” Rev. Fernando said adding the government’s response naturally caused serious suspicions among the affected communities.
Parliament announced that a resolution for the establishment of the Special PSC would be presented to Parliament tomorrow (17). A statement issued by Parliament on 13 October quoted the Acting Secretary General Chaminda Kularatne as having said that the resolution in this regard would be presented at 10.30 am on Tuesday.
Rev. Fernando stressed that the Church wouldn’t give up its stand on a five-point plan proposed to President Wickremesinghe to bring the investigation into a successful conclusion. Among their demands were suspension of intelligence chiefs and senior DIGs, Nilantha Jayawardena and Deshabandu Tennakoon to facilitate a thorough inquiry. The Church wants CID officers who had handled the original investigation to review the whole process again under independent international scrutiny.
Top SLPP rebel group spokesperson Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said that their group would decide tomorrow (17) whether to join the Special PSC. JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that there was no point in a second Special PSC on the Easter Sunday carnage though they were yet to take a decision on this matter. Opposition sources said that Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya was not keen on the government proposal as members felt it wouldn’t serve any purpose.
https://island.lk/church-rejects-spl-psc-reiterates-five-point-plan-to-address-its-concerns/
