MR proposes Parliamentary Select Committee on attacks

•  Rajapaksa warns Govt. should not undermine public confidence in security forces 
• Says security of school children a measure of Govt.’s competence
• Slams Govt. for not presenting united front, clamping down on media reports   

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called on the Government to appoint a Parliament Select Committee to investigate the process that led up to the attacks to find out clearly who was responsible for the intelligence lapse and recommend ways to rectify the shortcomings. 

He also severely cautioned the Government on a range of issues warning it against denting public confidence in the security forces, securing the safety of school children and presenting verified information on measures taken after the Easter Sunday attacks. 

Speaking in Parliament he criticised the Government for taking a political decision to open schools rather than waiting for clearance from the security forces. He pointed out that the decision to open schools was taken despite appeals by religious leaders to keep schools closed and reports of further attacks. Rajapaksa said his security detail has received information from the intelligence community of the possibility of another attack on 13 May.

Urging the Government to think wisely and wait for some time till the imminent threat is completely taken out and confirmed by the security forces, Opposition Leader said: “You have decided to open schools for classes 1-6 on next Monday. Meanwhile, the intelligence sources have sent our individual security details the possibilities of another attack on 13 May. There are four million children and it is not safe to take them out. Can we estimate the value of the life of a child at Rs. 100,000? This is an insult. None of these children are bulletproof. We have bulletproof vehicles and can take cover.”

Rajapaksa pointed out that confidence in the Government would be measured on the safety of these school children. He acknowledged that the Government could not keep schools closed indefinitely but argued that better assurances should have been given.  

“Now the children of politicians and the security forces are not sent to school. They stay at home as far as I know. This is not the fault of their parents who know the Government is not speaking with confidence. President, the Prime Minister, and the ministers give three different opinions. In the absence of common opinion, people get scared,” he added.

Rajapaksa also said the Government should not dent the people’s faith in security forces and Police as that would result in the country descending to chaos. 

Highlighting the chaos in the country and the State decisions that escalate the public tension, Rajapaksa said: “I am making this request as a parent to stop gambling the lives of our children. The security forces should give clearance. Remember this is not the first time we faced terrorism. We have encountered terrorism for over three decades. Almost all Sri Lankans are now worried about their future. Many have died in other countries due to terrorist attacks. But the respective governments were able to bounce back within a day or two. A few terrorists have brought this chaos to Sri Lanka. All Muslims are not terrorists we need to understand that as well.”

Opposition Leader also held that the Easter Sunday happens to be the darkest day in the Sri Lankan history where the Parliament was unable to make prudent decisions. “This House has the challenge to re-establish the security, economy, and the coexistence now damaged. The fear has to be eliminated first and build confidence and trust. This is a different type of terrorism. We need public support to eliminate this type of terrorism. The clergy from both Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters requested the Government to stop opening schools before ensuring safety. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith along with the Bishops have decided to delay the opening of all Catholic schools. They wanted to open schools on the 14 May having correctly understanding the gravity of the threat,” he explained.

MP Rajapaksa also wanted the Government to remove the ban imposed on security operations. “The news ban could open the door for the spread of wrong information and rumours. You should not leave room to spread fake news,” he pointed out. 

The Opposition leader also appealed to the Government not to move the Counter-Terrorism Act at this time as it would be taking advantage of the Easter Sunday attacks to score political points.