27 February 2019 12:01 am
Truth and Reconciliation Comm.
By Kelum Bandara
The Defence Ministry, which comes under the purview of President Maithripala Sirisena has still not submitted its observations on the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe presented a Cabinet memorandum two weeks ago to set up such a mechanism with no criminal liability arising from any confessions made at
the commission.
The memorandum was deferred when the President sought time for the Defence Ministry to make its observations. However, the Defence Ministry is still to send its observations to the Cabinet and as such the proposal was not taken up for discussion at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka submitted his observations objecting to such a mechanism. He said a general pardon should be granted to those who were alleged to have commuted war crimes instead of dragging this issue. He said the government should rid the country of international intervention on this matter.