Zahran’s wife’s statement in camera, journalists ousted from the BMICH premises

Abdul Cader Fatima Hadiya, the wife of National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim, testified before the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks today.

However, her evidence was not opened for the media since there is a court case that is currently being heard against her at Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court.

Accordingly, Hadiya was taken to the Commission at around 9 a.m. and the Commission started to record her evidence in camera.

The Journalists who had come to report the Commission proceedings had not been provided with seating facilities outside the Commission premises and they had a discussion about the matter, outside the Commission.

While having that discussion, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) Sunil Dissanayake reprimanded the Journalists who arrived to leave the BMICH premises.

Earlier, Journalists were allowed to sit outside the Commission when confidential evidence were being recorded.

When the media officials asked the BMICH's CEO about his behaviour and not being provided seating facilities he said that the issue was not relevant to him and the matter should have been discussed with the Secretary of the Commission.

Accordingly, Journalists inquired into the matter from the Secretary of the Commission Buwaneka Herath and he said that there was no point in discussing such issues with Journalists. (Yoshitha Perera)