Bernard to testify

By Sandun A. Jayasekera


The Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission will start public hearings tomorrow with the recording of evidence from Bernard Gunatilaka, the former head of the now defunct Peace Secretariat and a member of the government delegation to peace talks with the LTTE during the UNP regime.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is slated to appear before the commission and give evidence on August 17.

The eight member Presidential Commission headed by former Attorney General C.R.De Silva will be conducting its public hearing at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Centre in Colombo.

The Commission’s Secretary S. M. Samarakone told the Daily Mirror that during the seven day public hearing that runs up to August 25 will record evidence from a number of top government officials, former diplomats, academics and intellectuals.

They include S.L Gunasekara,  Anandasangaree, Godfrey Gunatilaka, Hiranthi Wijemanne, Mangala Smaraweera, Nihal Rodrigo, Austin Fernando, Rajan Asiriwadan, Rajiva Wijesinghe, Manel Abesekara,  Jayantha Dhanapala and Asoka Gunasekara.

“The Commission will go to Vavuniya to conduct a two day public hearing on August 14 and 15 after the conclusion of the public hearing in Colombo,” Mr. Samarakone said.
Other members of the Commission are Rohan de Silva PC, Karunaratne Hangawatta, H.M.G.S.Palihakkara, M.T.M.Jiffry, C. Chanmugam, Mano Ramanathan and Maxwel Paranagama.