President and PM should take steps to conduct an independent probe into attacks : Cardinal

Colombo Archbishop His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has urged that the President and the Prime Minister take steps to conduct an independent probe into the Easter Sunday attacks.

In response to the statement issued by Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa saying that he would set-up an independent body to probe the attacks if voted into power, the Cardinal pointed out that it is the government which must act in this regard.

"Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has issued a statement over this matter. However, he does not have power (to do anything about it)," he told reporters after visiting the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today (Aug 27).

The Cardinal said that although those in power are claiming that they are taking action, what needs to be done is to appoint an independent commission to investigate the attacks.

"What we want is an independent commission which is rid of any political affiliation and is able to take action against any individual," he stressed.

While pointing out that the report of the President's Special Committee which investigated the attacks has not been released to the public, the Cardinal said he has been informed that the report could not be obtained until the Attorney General makes a decision about it.

Italian Archbishop His Eminence Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti also accompanied the Cardinal during his visit to the Dalada Maligawa.

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