No intention to hide details in CoI report on Easter attacks - President

The Government has no intention to hide details contained in the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today. 

He made the comments during the latest edition of his "Gama Samaga Pilisandara" (Dialogue with the Village) held in Giribawa, Kurunegala. Speaking further, the President claimed that the Government had not made "deals" with any person or party on the matter. 

The Easter attacks are a national issue and should not be turned into a political theme, the President said. He acknowledged that it was the Government's responsibility to ensure justice for victims of the attacks.  

The grief felt by Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith over the incident is justified, the President said. "However, it is laughable to see that politicians from the previous Government, who remained silent when the attacks took place, are now speaking of hoisting black flags," he quipped. 

Mr Rajapaksa added that the Government that came to power in 2015 had neglected national security. 

Many decisions were taken regarding the development of the area where the latest 'Gama Samaga Pilisandara" was held, the President's Media Unit (PMD) stated. It was decided to speedily develop 105 kilometres of road in 33 roads within the Giribawa Divisional Secretariat Division speedily. The President also instructed education officials to take action to fill teacher vacancies in area schools and develop infrastructure facilities in them. 

It was also decided to reactivate electrical fences in the area as a solution to elephants coming into villages. 

The Army Engineers Corps were also tasked with repairing the electrical fences, improving sanitation facilities and building playgrounds for schools in the area.