Presidential Commission meets to review power after court order

The Presidential Commission investigating specific cases of human rights violations will meet on Tuesday to review its powers after Colombo’s Chief Magistrate turned down a request to release documents related to the investigations on the assassination of former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Chief Magistrate Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena in rejecting the request said only the Attorney General should be allowed to file indictments.

The Commission’s Secretary, S.D. Piyadasa, told The Sunday Times that they would discuss with the Attorney General’s Department officials about the Chief Magistrate’s order.

The Chief Magistrate turned down Colombo Crime Division (CCD) chief Sarath Lugoda’s request for certified copies of the documents related to the Kadirgamar investigations. She said that any objections to the court’s decision could be made before July 23.

Meanwhile U.Yapa and K.C.Logeswaran, two of the eight members who constitute the commission, have resigned citing personal reasons.

The Commission headed by Justice N.K. Udalagama has been entrusted with inquiring 15 cases of human rights violations. In addition to the assassination of Mr. Kadirgamar, the killing of civilians in Kayts Island; the assassination of five students in Trincomalee; the claymore attack on a civilian bus in Kebetigollewa; the killings of 17 Action Against Hunger workers in Muttur; the five headless bodies in Avissawella; disappearances of Muslims in Muttur; and the attack on the Sri Lanka Navy transit camp in Digampathana are some of the other cases to be investigated.

An International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) was also set up to monitor the investigations.