April 21: Catholic MPs demand fresh probe

In a letter addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena, six Catholic MPs representing the opposition had requested a fresh probe on the dastardly Easter Sunday bombings.

Accordingly, MPs Johnston Fernando, Nimal Lansa, Indika Anuruddha, Arundika Fernando, Sanath Nishantha Perera and Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle have requested the President to appoint an independent commission to probe the attacks. The committee appointed by the President had come up with a report which is yet to be disclosed.

They said the society believed a proper investigation into the attacks had not been carried out as yet.

“People do not have faith in ongoing probes. Even the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed his dissatisfaction on the investigations that are being carried out presently. The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) tasked with this endeavour is only engaged in whitewashing the accused. It is also a known fact that the government avoided the debate on the no-confidence motion brought against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen stating that a select committee would carry out a probe on the minister. The only thing the select committee did was expose the officers attached to intelligence units. The opposition decided to boycott the select committee because of this reason,” they said.

The MPs said it was vital to find out those who were responsible for the carnage and why it was not averted despite prior warnings. They said it was essential to determine as to who protected the extremist groups that instigated these heinous acts.

“We urge you to appoint an independent commission to probe the attacks and to disclose the truth behind these bombings,” they said. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)