13 June 2019 09:00 pm
SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayaka today said he was confused as to whether the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that summoned and questioned defence and intelligence officials, was a conspiracy hatched by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in connivance with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in an attempt to embarrass President Maithripala Sirisena.
Mr. Dissanayaka admitted that the failure to convene the cabinet would create a new crisis as there would be no functioning government as a result.
Addressing the weekly news briefing of the UPFA, Mr. Dissanayaka said the dispute between the executive, the legislature and the government was not good for the country and as such President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Rajapaksa must soon reach a compromise to resolve the crisis.
“It is extremely unfair to blame the President for the failure to take steps to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage. The tri-forces, the police, intelligence units and the STF have been informed on the resurgence of Muslim religious extremism since 2011. Intelligence data collection on the activities of religious terrorism had been gathering momentum this year and last year. Even the day before the bomb attack and in previous weeks, the intelligence and defence officers had been getting information on the impending attack, but there was no action at all by the officials. Therefore, I completely reject allegations levelled against political leadership and ask top intelligence and defence officials what they have been doing all these years and months and what preventive action they took to prevent the attack?” Mr. Dissanayaka asked.
However, Mr. Dissanayaka was critical on the summoning and questioning of intelligence and defence officials by the select committee and added that the process has put the country’s national security at risk.
“Besides, I don’t think a select committee is necessary to probe the Easter Sunday carnage because President Sirisena has appointed a presidential commission for that purpose, chaired by Justice Malalagoda and the report has been handed to the President. He has taken measures to implement the recommendations and Attorney General’s advice has been sought for the purpose,” he stressed.
Mr. Dissanayaka blamed the opposition, the media and certain civil society groups for blowing the Easter Sunday attack out of proportion and that as a result finding a sustainable solution to religious extremism has become difficult. (Sandun A Jayasekera)