Maithri terminates PRECIFAC Secretary

By Shanika Sriyananda

In a sudden move, the government has removed the Secretary of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) Lacille De Silva from the post with effect from yesterday afternoon.

When contacted de Silva confirmed that he has received a letter from the President’s Secretary P.B Abeykoon stating that his ‘ services have been terminated from the Commission’.

“I am really clueless about the reasons why I have been removed from the post,” de Silva said adding that no reasons for his removal from the post was mentioned in the letter.

de Silva, who is an experienced administrative officer, was the former Director (Administration) of the Parliament and was also the Secretary to several previous committees, including  the Public Petitions and Public Accounts.

Being a media friendly administrative officer, De Silva held the post of the Secretary of the PRECIFAC from its inception. The term of the PRECIFAC has been extended by a year until 3 March, 2017.

Attempts to contact the President’s Secretary Abeykoon failed.

Meanwhile, H.W. Gunasena, the former Secretary of the Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons (PCICMP) has been appointed as the new Secretary of the PRECIFAC from yesterday.