New vice-president not from the Rajapaksa political dynasty – The Island

Colombo HC lawyers concerned about shocking developments

By Shamindra Ferdinando

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, said a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) should be appointed to investigate the role played by IGP CD Wickremaratne and Secretary of the Department of Public Security , Major General (Retired) Jagath Alwis in the recent SLPP hot-headed attack on those demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers, including Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Weerawansa yesterday (18) said the Isle Parliament should investigate the unprovoked attack which sparked an extremely violent response from the public as well as those waiting for an opportunity to unleash violence against a select group of lawmakers on May 9.

The former industry minister said he was confident Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, would look into the issues to be resolved.

Responding to another question, Weerawansa said that Senior DIG Colombo Deshabandu Tennakoon’s assertion that the IGP and the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security interfered with his (Tennakoon’s) plan to disperse the SLPP crowds could not not be easily dismissed.

MP Weerawansa said in Parliament on Tuesday (17) that the IGP and the Ministry of Public Security dissuaded the Principal DIG from carrying out his duties despite having received specific instructions from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to arrest the march on Galle Face. The former JVPer wondered if these conspirators wanted to show the world the failure of the police and armed forces to maintain public order.

Asked if the police headquarters and the Ministry of Public Security had responded to his accusations, Weerawansa said he had not been contacted by them so far.

Pointing out that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), investigating the May 09 unrest, had recorded Senior DIG’s statement, Weerawansa said the team may issue an interim statement on the matter.

The Colombo High Court Lawyers Association said the shocking revelation, made in Parliament, should be promptly investigated.

The association’s president, lawyer Lakshman Perera, said the ongoing investigations had taken an unexpected turn following high-profile allegations about the conduct of the IGP, as well as the secretary of the Ministry of Security. public. Pointing out that the HRCSL and CID had already recorded DIG Tennakoon’s statement, regarding the incidents, and that the officer was among a group of 22 people who had been issued a travel ban by the Fort Magistrate, the lawyer Perera said that the CID could not turn a blind eye to the accusations directed against the head of the department as well as the relevant ministry secretary.

Lawyer Perera said investigations could not be completed without verifying the charges brought to parliament.

Lawmaker Weerawansa said the issue was on whose behalf the IGP and the secretary of the Ministry of Public Security intervened at a time when the country was in a state of emergency and after the senior DIG in charge of Colombo received specific instructions from the President himself.

Although the SLPP thugs did not shed blood or cause serious injuries, unlike the well-organized mobs that wreaked havoc across the country afterwards, MP Weerawansa said he could not understand why the police and the armed forces had allowed the situation to develop. at an extremely dangerous level.

The HRCSL, in its initial reaction to the unprovoked attacks on those who had demanded the resignation of the government, condemned the violence caused by a group of people who made it clear that violence was their intention.

HRCSL President, retired Supreme Court Justice Rohini Marasinghe said: “The failure of the police to prepare for this eventuality and to prevent and deal with violence and destruction is a flagrant failure of the police. ‘public order. There must be an immediate investigation into this matter. The inaction of the police to prevent the confrontation is condemned.

The island brought the latest developments to the attention of the HRCSL yesterday as MP Weerawansa said those who conspired and planned the scheme which then implicated Temple Trees leaders and the SLPP should be arrested. The conspirators should not be allowed to escape justice while the CID arrests those who carried out the attacks themselves.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the department could not respond to what happened in parliament. Acknowledging that he was aware of the allegations made in Parliament, Advocate Thalduwa said that in case their response would be sought through the proper channels, regardless of the answers to the questions.