Easter Sunday attacks: Parliament approves Select Committee

A motion to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into and report to Parliament on the terrorist attacks that took place on April 21 was approved in Parliament today (May 22).

By Sandun Jayawardana

A motion to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into and report to Parliament on the terrorist attacks that took place on April 21 was approved in Parliament today (May 22).

The motion, signed by MPs from all parties represented in Parliament was approved unanimously. 

The committee will be tasked with investigating and reporting back to Parliament whether the law enforcement authorities possessed prior intelligence relating to the attacks; whether there were deficiencies in the State machinery that led to the inability to prevent such attacks or mitigate their effects; whether any other factors contributed to such terrorist attacks; what action should be taken to prevent such attacks in the future; and any other matters connected or incidental thereto.

The Speaker will nominate members to the committee and its Chairperson. The committee will consist of a maximum of 12 members.

The committee will have powers to fix its quorum, send for any persons, papers and records, summon any person to Parliament or before the committee, and order them to produce any paper, book, record or document in the possession or under the control of such persons.

It will also have powers to interview witnesses under oath, conduct meetings outside Parliament in any part of the country and to obtain the services of specialists and experts in the relevant fields to assist the committee. The committee will be given the authority to submit interim reports and to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of Parliament.

The committee will be tasked with presenting a report to Parliament within three months of the date of its first sitting or as such other or further time period as Parliament may grant.