Maithripala Sirisena - His disrespectful manner is evident: AG’s Dept. tells PCoI

Former president Maithripala Sirisena's disrespectful attitude to the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks is evident by the media statement he had issued denying the evidence given by former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando, a representative of the Attorney General's Department told the PCoI.

Mr. Sirisena was also present at the Commission premises when this was said.

The PCoI had summoned the former president and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to testify on on October 5 and 6.

The representative said according to the Commission's mandate, its sittings were deemed to be a judiciary proceedings.

"According to Article 105 (3) of the Constitution the power of the Court of Appeal shall include the power to punish for contempt of any other court, tribunal or institution reffered to in paragraph (1) (c) of this Article," he said.

The representative requested the Commission to summon former Mr. Sirisena's personal secretary Sameera de Silva to appear before the Commission with reference to the statement on social media.

Meanwhile, Counsel Dilshan Jayasuriya appearing for former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando requested the PCoI to take legal action against Mr. Sirisena for undermining the PCoI's mandate.

President's Counsel Maithri Gunaratne appearing former Mr. Sirisena said his client was ready to provide evidence to the PCoI at anytime and by issuing such media statement his client had not intended to undermine the PCoI's mandate.

"My client is a politician and he has to think about his supporters. Issuing a such statement was meant to protect his political image," he said. (Yoshitha Perera)