Govt. tables political victimisation comm. report in P’ment

Wednesday, 10 March 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former PM, Cabinet Ministers, party leaders among 23 named by commission
They are accused of violating constitution, public property act etc.
Commission calls into question several high-profile cases pending in court and recommends many be discontinued
Duminda Silva conviction also questioned by commission

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry that looked into political victimisation under the previous administration has recommended action against 23 persons, including former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Cabinet Ministers and political party leaders.

Those named in the report as having acted in violation of the constitution and of offenses under the Public Property Act and bribery laws include former Cabinet Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rauff Hakeem, Sarath Fonseka, Malik Samarawickrama, while the others are JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, TNA MPs R. Sampanthan and M. A. Sumanthiran and former MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne.

In addition to these politicians, the commission has named several others, including Secretary to then Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, SSP Shani Abeysekera and attorney J.C. Weliamuna as having violated the law.

The report was tabled in Parliament by the Government yesterday.

In addition to recommending punishment for those allegedly involved in political victimisation, the commission has called into question the judgments given against murder convict former MP Duminda Silva, while recommending discontinuation of the cases HC8331/16 and B96823/2015 filed against Yoshitha Rajapakasa.

It has also recommended discontinuation of the case 1448/2020 which has been filed against former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and the case filed against Rear Admiral D.K.P Dassanayake. However, it had recommended an investigations by the Bribery Commission against the former Navy Commander and Minister Gammanpila.

The commission has also said cases pending against former diplomat Udayanga Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s ex-Ambassador to Washington Jaliya Wickramasuriya too should be discontinued.