Govt open for a debate on ‘Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks’ report: Keheliya

The Government will be open for a debate in Parliament on the report on the Presidential Commission  of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks while proceeding to implement its recommendations, Co-cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

His comments came after the report was submitted to the Cabinet and due to be submitted to Parliament today.

However, despite assurance that the report would be submitted to Parliament today the report was not submitted to Parliament.

Minister Rambukwella said that simultaneous steps would be taken in implementation of the report and it would include the Attorney General going ahead to take action based on the report.

He said that the appointment of the ministerial committee to look into the findings of the report was one such step in implementation of the report.

He said the delay in presenting the report to the Parliament was due to the delay in getting the translations required of the report.

The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the Chairman of the Commission Supreme Court judge Janak de Silva at the Presidential Secretariat on February 1.

The first and second interim reports were handed over to President on December 20, 2019 and on March 2, 2020 respectively.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the Commission of Inquiry on September 22, 2019 to investigate and report on the series of terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday and to recommend necessary action based on the findings.

The Report comprises 472 pages, 215 annexures and 6 volumes.

Other members of the Commission were Court of Appeal judge Nishshanka Bandula Karunaratne, retired Supreme Court judges Nihal Sunil Rajapaksha and A. L. Bandula Kumara Atapattu and former Secretary to the Ministry of Justice W. M. M. R. Adhikari.