Maithripala’s participation in MCC on National Security rare

Although former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the sessions of the Ministerial Consultative Committee (MCC) on National Security as defense ministers during their tenure, the 'Yahapalana' government's president Maithripala Sirisena participation in those sessions were on limited occasions, Director of Legislative Services of the Parliament Jagath Ruwan Kumara Gajaweera, yesterday informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Responding to questions raised by the Commissioner the witness said that after 2015 the State Minister of Defense had participated at the meetings conducted by the MCC.

"Before 2015, during the tenures of former Presidents Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa had chaired those committee meetings and the meetings were mostly held at Temple Trees due to security reasons," he said.

Responding to a question by members of the Commission as to who were the other officials attended the sessions of MCC on National Security, the witness said the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, officials of the Tri-forces and Police were participants in those meetings.(Yoshitha Perera)