SIS should be an independent body - Presidential Committee

The three-member committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to investigate lapses leading up to the Easter Sunday attacks said today (20) that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) should be made an independent body through a Parliamentary Act. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

The three-member committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to investigate lapses leading up to the Easter Sunday attacks said today (20) that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) should be made an independent body through a Parliamentary Act. 

Giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) Investigating the Easter Sunday attacks, Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Supreme Court Justice Vijith Malalgoda said their committee had observed that information had not been disseminated properly.

"We identified certain individuals responsible for these lapses and recommended investigations be conducted on them. As part of our recommendations on measures that should be taken to avoid a repeat of such an incident, we recommended that the SIS be reformed through a Parliamentary Act and established as an independent body," he said. 

Justice Malalgoda said the SIS should function differently from other intelligence agencies such as those of the army and police. 

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakoon, who was also part of the three-member committee appointed by the President said they observed lapses in the coordination among intelligence agencies.

"That was why we recommended that for the purposes of national security, the premier intelligence agency should be reformed through a Parliamentary Act that would convert it to a strong, independent intelligence body operating under legal cover," he stressed. 

The three-members of the Presidential Committee, Supreme Court Justice Vijith Malalgoda, former IGP N.K. llangakoon and former Ministry Secretary Padmasiri Jayamanna gave evidence together before the PSC today. 

(Captured below are scenes from today's PSC sittings. Pics by Sameera Weerasekara)