Notices issued to 14 VIPs including Maithri & RW

Notices were issued to 14 VIPs including former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to present a legal representation to the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks, during the testimony of current SDIG and former Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday.

Accordingly, notices were issued to former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene, former Law and Order Ministers Sagala Ratnayaka and Ranjith Madduma Bandara, former Defense Secretaries Kapila Waidyaratne, Karunasena Hettiarchchi and Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former CNI Sisira Mendis, former head of TID, Nalaka de Silva, brigadier Chula Kodithuwakku, former SDIG - CID Ravi Senevirathne and Director CID Shani Abeysekara, and had been asked to send legal representatives.

These VIPs are also to give evidence before the PCoI in the future.

Counsel Pulasthi Rupasinghe with Harshana de Silva represented former President Maithripala Sirisena. Counsel Navoda Wijeratne appeared for former Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarchchi and Shanaka Bandara PC appeared for Sisira Mendis.

Anura Meddegoda PC appeared for former IGP Pujith Jayasundara while Counsel Dilshan Jayasuriya represented former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando. Counsel Upul Kumaraperuma represented former SDIG in charge of CID Ravi Senaviratne and former Director of CID Shani Abeysekara.

Former CNI Sisira Mendis and former CID Director Shani Abeysekara were present at the PCoI in person during the testimony of former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena.

PC Nalinda Indatissa representing former SIS director Nilantha Jayawardena and the Additional Solicitor General who led the evidence requested the Commissioners that the evidence should be taken without the media.

Former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena also informed the Commission that he cares deeply about National Security.

He said if the sensitive information which he was going to present before the Commission, was publicised, that would be a threat to the National Security and his family.

However, the Commissioners said that around 150 documents, which involved Jayawardena had been marked and discussed in public, so that some evidence of former SIS Director could be taken in Camera, while others would be taken before media. (Yoshitha Perera)